200 Homeless Test Positive Coronavirus In Boston

BOSTON, MA — Boston's homeless population is seeing a major increase in new coronavirus cases, as the city prepares to open 500 beds at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center in the Seaport to homeless people during the pandemic.

"We think there's close to 200 cases in the homeless community, we think that number is close to 30 percent of those tested," said Boston's Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez.

That number of people who tested positive for COVID-19 is up from 29 on Friday, according to Vicki Ritterband of Boston Health Care For The Homeless Program, which offers health services for people experiencing homelessness.

State officials announced Monday the number of people who had tested positive rose to 13,837 across the state. There were 29 new coronavirus deaths, bringing the death toll to 260 across the commonwealth. In Boston, the number was 2,03 on Monday and 19 people had died.

Martinez said there has been universal testing in Boston shelters and it demonstrated that a good majority of those who tested positive were showing no symptoms of the virus.

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said that was even more reason the city was working to ensure there were safe places for the homeless community to shelter.

"Our homeless community is probably some of the most vulnerable people in our community that we're trying to protect," said Walsh.

Each year the city takes a count of the number of people experiencing homelessness in Boston. During the past few years the total number has been above 6,000.

Boston Public Health Commission and Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program have set up two large tents for quarantine and isolation next to the Southampton Street Shelter, and both are full.

The city also opened an old hospital on Commonwealth Avenue in Brighton, with 70 beds for quarantining and isolating people who are homeless.

“When you don’t have a place to safely quarantine yourself it’s an incredible challenge," said Ritterbrand. "A lot of our patients are scared, and I think that we’re doing everything we can to give our patients the same advantages that you and I who have homes, have in providing them with a safe place to isolate if they do have symptoms and to get treatment if they need it.”

Joe Finn, president of the Massachusetts Housing Shelter Alliance, said Boston is moving in the right direction.

The danger is that by not having a place for people who are homeless to quarantine or practice social distancing, should the number of cases continue, it could put added pressure on already taxed health care facilities.

"This is not a 'homeless issue' right now," said Finn. "Regardless of what your opinions are around homelessness, this is a public health issue."

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