Gov. Charlie Baker warned Massachusetts residents Tuesday that while coronavirus infection rates continue to decline, people should continue to practice all the safety measures that health officials have advised for weeks — wearing masks, washing hands and surfaces and keeping a distance from others.
“This is still very much a legitimate and dangerous and contagious virus,” Baker said during a press conference at a New Balance shoe factory in Lawrence that had retooled its operation to manufacture personal protective equipment such as masks.
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Baker’s urging residents to remain cautious stood in sharp contrast to earlier comments by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, who strongly urged people to go out shopping and support local businesses that have just reopened under the state’s newly-eased economic restrictions.
“This is really you doing your part to helping our businesses get back up on and running it back on their feet,” Polito said.
Massachusetts has the third-highest rate of coronavirus cases in the U.S. and has had 7,353 deaths from COVID-19. Baker said positive infection rates among those tested have dropped to 4.9 percent.
