Walsh: ‘We need more testing, we need more swabs’

BOSTON — The national Coronavirus Task Force named Boston as one of several coronavirus hot spot cities now under extra scrutiny.

“Areas that we continue to watch carefully on the task force include the Chicago metro area, the Boston metro, and the Philadelphia metropolitan area,” said Vice President Mike Pence.

Shortly after this briefing, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh appeared on “CNN Tonight” with Don Lemon Sunday night.

When asked if the city has all it needs to deal with a surge in cases, Walsh answered bluntly.

“No, not at all,” said Walsh. “We need more testing, we need more swabs. The President talked today that we’re going to have more swabs than we know what to do with, certainly we could use some of them here in Boston and Massachusetts.”

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Walsh said Sunday’s sunny, 60-degree weather proved to be a setback for Boston, as people gathered in large groups and ignored social distancing guidelines. "A lot of people were disappointing,” Walsh told Lemon. “There were people out golfing, there were people playing soccer, a lot of people out gathering. I think right now [they’re] not understanding the severity of what’s happening in this country and in Boston and Massachusetts, and it’s just wrong.”

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Boston has seen 175 coronavirus-related deaths and 5,516 positive cases.

On CNN, Walsh stressed what he thinks is the key to beating the virus.

“While I have a national audience, social distancing is key if we want to stop coronavirus,” said Walsh. “You stop coronavirus by social distancing. That’s the only way it’s going to happen.”

When asked about reopening the economy, Walsh said he doesn’t want to rush things.

[ Watch: DPW trucks being used to get out information to Boston residents ]

“Certainly, we all want to be up and running again, there’s no question about it,” said Walsh. “Boston had a very hot economy prior to the coronavirus, but we also have to be very careful.”

Meanwhile, Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker said the state is now in the middle of its surge in cases.

Sunday, President Donald Trump announced New York will be dispersing some of its extra ventilators to states in need, including the Bay State.“They are now taking some of their excess ventilators which is great, and they are sending them up to Massachusetts,” said President Trump. “I think it’s 400.”

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said those ventilators are ready to go and will be sent as soon as Governor Baker requests them.

[ Massachusetts now at center of national outbreak ]

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