MA Coronavirus: Cases Top 41K, 152 More Dead

BOSTON — The number of confirmed coronavirus cases topped 41,000 in Massachusetts, state health officials said Tuesday afternoon.

The Department of Public Health said 1,556 new cases of COVID-19 upped the number to 41,199. There were 152 more deaths, bringing the death toll to 1,961.

Gov. Charlie Baker said in a news conference over the weekend Massachusetts is now in the middle of a surge.

With the number of cases and deaths not decreasing, Baker on Tuesday ordered all public and private schools across the state to remain closed for the remainder of the school year.

Schools were supposed to reopen after May 4, but Baker faced pressure to keep them closed for the safety of teachers, students and staff.

Massachusetts now joins 27 other states — including New Hampshire and Vermont — that have closed school buildings until the fall. Schools across the state have been closed since mid-March, with some closed before that due to local coronavirus outbreaks.

Students will continue remote learning for the rest of the school year, Baker said. He cautioned that this is not an early summer break release.

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