Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Friday the results of a study that evaluated community exposure to COVID-19.Of the Boston residents tested, 9.9% tested positive for antibodies, and 2.6% of those tested who were asymptomatic tested positive for COVID-19. About 1 in 10 residents in the study have developed antibodies, and about 1 in 40 currently asymptomatic individuals are positive for COVID-19 and potentially infectious. “We can draw two preliminary conclusions from the results of this study,” Walsh said “First, that the actions we took early on in this pandemic made a real difference in slowing the spread and, second, that the majority of our population still have not been exposed to the virus.”Walsh stressed officials need to move cautiously as they look to reopen the city.“This can be done by a gradual, phased-in approach to reopening that includes clear health criteria and safety guidelines for each industry and depends on testing and hospital metrics reaching certain benchmarks, and continuing to move in the right direction,” Walsh said.More than 5,000 residents living in East Boston, Roslindale or within the boundaries of ZIP codes 02121 and 02125 in Dorchester were invited to voluntarily participate in the study, with total outreach representing more than 55% people of color. About 1,000 residents expressed interest in participating and 786 residents were deemed eligible. Of those, 750 residents enrolled in the study and received the required testing. Residents with symptoms or a previously positive COVID-19 test were disqualified from the study. Testing was conducted at three drive-thru testing sites in East Boston, Roslindale and Dorchester. Testing for COVID-19 virus is done by means of a swab of the nose and determines if you have the infection. Antibody testing is done by means of blood drawn through a finger prick and detects whether your blood has antibodies that are present when the body is responding to an infection, like COVID-19. Any resident who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or the COVID-19 antibodies was provided with clear guidance and information on how to care for themselves and those around them.The city is working to increase access to testing for Boston residents. Testing is offered at more than 20 locations in Boston, including hospitals and community health centers. Walsh announced Monday that the city’s first round of universal testing for all homeless individuals in Boston was completed. More than 2,200 homeless individuals were tested, with 743 testing positive for a 32% infection rate.
BOSTON —
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh announced Friday the results of a study that evaluated community exposure to COVID-19.
Of the Boston residents tested, 9.9% tested positive for antibodies, and 2.6% of those tested who were asymptomatic tested positive for COVID-19.
About 1 in 10 residents in the study have developed antibodies, and about 1 in 40 currently asymptomatic individuals are positive for COVID-19 and potentially infectious.
“We can draw two preliminary conclusions from the results of this study,” Walsh said “First, that the actions we took early on in this pandemic made a real difference in slowing the spread and, second, that the majority of our population still have not been exposed to the virus.”
Walsh stressed officials need to move cautiously as they look to reopen the city.
“This can be done by a gradual, phased-in approach to reopening that includes clear health criteria and safety guidelines for each industry and depends on testing and hospital metrics reaching certain benchmarks, and continuing to move in the right direction,” Walsh said.
More than 5,000 residents living in East Boston, Roslindale or within the boundaries of ZIP codes 02121 and 02125 in Dorchester were invited to voluntarily participate in the study, with total outreach representing more than 55% people of color.
About 1,000 residents expressed interest in participating and 786 residents were deemed eligible. Of those, 750 residents enrolled in the study and received the required testing. Residents with symptoms or a previously positive COVID-19 test were disqualified from the study.
Testing was conducted at three drive-thru testing sites in East Boston, Roslindale and Dorchester.
Testing for COVID-19 virus is done by means of a swab of the nose and determines if you have the infection. Antibody testing is done by means of blood drawn through a finger prick and detects whether your blood has antibodies that are present when the body is responding to an infection, like COVID-19.
Any resident who tested positive for the COVID-19 virus or the COVID-19 antibodies was provided with clear guidance and information on how to care for themselves and those around them.
The city is working to increase access to testing for Boston residents. Testing is offered at more than 20 locations in Boston, including hospitals and community health centers.
Walsh announced Monday that the city’s first round of universal testing for all homeless individuals in Boston was completed. More than 2,200 homeless individuals were tested, with 743 testing positive for a 32% infection rate.
