FALL RIVER – The city reported 11 new cases of COVID-19 and one new death associated with the novel coronavirus on Monday, the day Gov. Charlie Baker announced a multi-phased reopening plan that could begin later this month and eventually ramp up to a "New Normal."
The new numbers bring the coronavirus case count up to 770 and the local death toll to 13, according to a press release issued by Mayor Paul Coogan and Health and Human Services Director Tess Curran.
“Stay strong,” Coogan said in a Facebook post announcing the new numbers.
At his Monday press briefing, Baker announced a four-phased plan to reopen the state’s economy and an "approach" that officials, in a post online, said is based on “public health guidance.”
"Businesses and activities with a lower risk of COVID-19 transmission will open in earlier phases," the post reads. "Public health metrics will determine when the first phase of reopening begins, as well as when it is safe to move into later phases. If public health metrics worsen, the state may need to return to an earlier phase.”
Baker said the phased plan could begin on May 18, but cautioned that the start-date depends on how the well officials contain the outbreak before then.
The state reported 669 additional cases on Monday across Massachusetts, and 129 new deaths, bringing the statewide case count up to 78,462 and the death toll up to 5,108.
In Bristol County, there were 68 new coronavirus cases on Monday, raising the county-wide total to 4,999. There were 8 new deaths, raising the county-wide death toll to 274, according to the Department of Public Health.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health also reports cases of two or more in long-term care facilities, and classifies them as being under 10, between 10 and 30, and over 30 cases.
On Monday, Clifton Assisted Living Community in Somerset had under 10 cases, Kimwell Nursing & Rehabilitation on New Boston Road in Fall River had over 30 cases, Brandon Woods in Dartmouth had over 30 cases, The Arbors at Taunton had over 30 cases, and Autumn Glen at Dartmouth had under 10 cases.
Charlton Memorial Hospital was treating was treating 70 patients hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 on Monday, including 17 patients in intensive care.
A total of 88 confirmed or suspected coronavirus patients were hospitalized at St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford, 13 of whom were in the ICU. And 48 people were hospitalized with confirmed or suspected COVID-19 at Morton Hospital in Taunton, including 7 in the ICU.
Material from the State House News Service was used in this report.