New Bedford reports two more COVID-19 related deaths, total rises to 36

New Bedford officials reported two more COVID-19 related deaths and 18 new cases since Monday.

Mayor Jon Mitchell’s office reported 18 additional confirmed COVID-19 cases in New Bedford on Tuesday, bringing the total positive cases in the city to 1169, up from 1,151 on Saturday. The two additional deaths bring the total death count attributed to COVID-19 to 36 in the city.

The City of New Bedford has been informed by the Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services that the state does not intend to pay for the care of MassHealth patients in the medical surge facility located at 4586 Acushnet Avenue. This facility is the second of two surge facilities that the City of New Bedford opened with the help of Southcoast Health and Essex Group Management Corporation to serve patients recovering from COVID-19, while freeing up hospital beds in the region. The explanation offered by the state was that there are now no patients at the Acushnet Avenue facility, and “no further COVID-19 Residents are expected to be admitted.” Full details here.

11 additional cases of COVID-19 have been identified in Fall River, according to the Mayor’s Office. This brings the total in Fall River to 770. The city was also notified of its thirteenth fatality due to the coronavirus. Full details here.

On May 11, Massachusetts COVID-19 cases dropped to 669 – the lowest one-day count since March 26 and a drop for the fifth consecutive day. Total COVID-19 related deaths passed 5,000. Full details here.

More than 20 social justice and prisoner rights advocacy groups will unveil a 10-point emergency plan Tuesday calling on the Baker administration to further reduce incarceration levels in Massachusetts prisons and jails. Warning of a “health care emergency” in correctional facilities, the group said decarceration can protect inmates as well as correction officers and the families to whom they return after work. Full details here.

A group of dozens of lawmakers hoping the state will prioritize COVID-19 testing for vulnerable communities last week called on Gov. Charlie Baker to activate the Massachusetts National Guard to lead mobile testing efforts in public housing, low-income communities, and senior housing facilities. Full details here.