Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that COVID-19 testing related to recent racial justice protests in Massachusetts revealed a rate of infection of 2.5 percent.
“We’re obviously pleased to see that the percentage of positive tests was quite low considering the frequency and size of those protests and demonstrations,” Baker said during a press conference. “We also pointed out the vast majority of folks participating in those demonstrations were wearing masks or face coverings of one kind or another.”
Baker also said he believed because demonstrators were moving and outdoors also made a difference in ensuring a low transmission rate. Commonwealth officials offered testing to those who had recently attended the demonstrations, and more than 17,000 tests took them up on the offer.
The numbers came as the commonwealth continued on a downward trend from the height of the COVID-19 crisis in the state in April.
According to Baker, 937 people were hospitalized statewide with COVID-19 as of Monday, marking a 74 percent drop in hospitalizations from April 15. Of those, 180 were in intensive care.
Of the 6,700 tests reported on Monday, 149 resulted in positive cases statewide.
The numbers represent a 93 percent drop in positive results since April 15, the governor said.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported on Monday another 17 deaths due to COVID-19. The total number of cases statewide stands at 107,210 and 7,874 deaths.
Baker also announced that the last parcel of land at the former Boston State Hospital site would be turned into public housing.
The governor said approximately 400 units would be built by Primary Corporation, a minority owned contractor.
The state has been under scrutiny since the January publication of a report by the New England Center for Investigative Reporting that found a 24 percent decrease in contract awards to minority contractors between 1998 and 2018.
