On Friday, March 6, 2020, the Boston Public Health Commission and the MassachusettsDepartment of Public Health announced three presumptive positive cases of COVID-19 in Boston residents. Two females and a male, all in their 40s, did not require hospitalization and are recovering and self-isolating at home.

The State Public Health Lab’s result is considered presumptive positive and the specimens will now be sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for confirmation. 

This case brings the total number of COVID-19 cases in Boston to four - one confirmed and three presumptive positive - since the outbreak started in the US in January. 

There is currently no evidence of community transmission in Boston. The risk remains low, but this situation is evolving rapidly and changes day to day.  

The state of Massachusetts is updating information about COVID-19 cases and residents subject to quarantine in Massachusetts. Visit the MDPH webpage on COVID-19 quarantine and monitoring in the Commonwealth. The CDC is tracking confirmed cases across the United States. For the latest on case counts, visit the CDC's website on COVID-19. 

People are advised to take many of the same steps they do to help prevent colds and the flu, including:

• Wash hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

• Avoid touching your eyes and face.

• Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.

• Cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue or the inside of your elbow.

• Stay home when feeling sick.

• Get a flu shot.

Watch today's announcement

RESOURCES:

BPHC.ORG

Call the Mayor's Healthline: 

617-534-5050 or Toll-Free: 1-800-847-0710

Visit the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website on COVID-19

Additional Resources:

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website on COVID-19
  
  

• CDC: Share the facts not fear. Know thefacts about COVID-19 and help stop the spread of rumors.

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health website on COVID-19

• Massachusetts Department of Public Health Preparedness Checklist for your family

• MBTA Preparedness Efforts for COVID-19
  

• BPHC Poster on COVID-19: English
  

• BPHC Poster on COVID-19: Chinese

• BPHC Poster on COVID-19: Spanish

• BPHC Poster on COVID-19: Vietnamese
  

• The American Dental Association's Guidance for COVID-19
  

Health care providers:

Health care providers in Boston should immediately notify BPHC at 617-534-5611 if they suspect a patient is infected with COVID-19. Providers outside of Boston should contact MDPH at 617-983-6800. CDC has created criteria to guide evaluation of patients suspected to have COVID-19. This can be found here.

For more information, call the Mayor's Healthline: 

617-534-5050 or Toll-Free: 1-800-847-0710

Media Contact: 

Caitlin McLaughlin 

cmclaughlin@bphc.org 

(857-393-0002)