Gov. Baker's daily press briefing is underway. He says 10,000 new tests were conducted over the weekend, bringing the state's total to almost 40,000. Shipment of PPE from national stockpile also arrived, and feds approved request for 1,000 ventilators #mapoli
Baker also discussing preparations for the "surge," including the effort to move nursing home patients to free up beds for COVID-19 and the need for blood donations. Governor and First Lady Lauren Baker donated at @RedCrossMA on Saturday #mapoli
"I think the quick turnaround we got on out ventilator request...was a big positive step forward in the right direction," Baker says when asked if federal support for states was improving. The governor has been highly critical of feds big-footing states trying to buy PPE #mapoli
NEW: Baker says the surge of COVID-19 patients needing hospital care could arrive between April 7 and April 17. It's the first time I've heard anyone at the state level put a time frame on it #mapoli
Baker closes briefing by saying that he is reviewing the newest guidance from the feds on essential businesses, and will have an update on extending the non-essential business closure order tomorrow. Currently runs through April 7 #mapoli
