The City of Lynn saw a 14 percent increase in its COVID-19 cases Wednesday, while Revere and Chelsea leaders announced a partnership to designate a hotel as a housing option for residents to safely recover from the coronavirus.
In Lynn, the city released data showing its largest day-to-day increase in COVID-19 cases since the outbreak began — 97 new cases and 767 total. Also, four more deaths were announced, bringing that total to 16.
Elsewhere, Swampscott has 60 confirmed cases as of Tuesday, Nahant has recorded 24 positive (with two deaths). Peabody has 227 cases, Lynnfield 44, Marblehead 52 and Saugus 137.
In a news conference broadcasted live Wednesday, Revere Mayor Brian M. Arrigo and Chelsea City Manager Thomas Ambrosino announced the Quality Inn in Revere has agreed to allow the use of the entire building for residents of both cities to safely quarantine and recover from the virus for the next 60 days.
The temporary housing option is targeted toward infected Revere and Chelsea residents who live in overcrowded housing conditions or would otherwise be at risk of spreading the virus within their community and don’t require hospitalization, according to a release from Arrigo’s office.
The day-to-day increase in Lynn had appeared to be trending down since last Saturday’s peak of 70 new cases. But Wednesday’s data represents a 14.4 percent spike over Tuesday’s case count.
Data shows residents between the ages of 21-61 are getting infected at the highest rate in Lynn, while its youngest residents, 21 and under are least impacted.
Mayor Thomas M. McGee has mandated all residents to wear face masks when entering essential businesses or public places to try to curb the spread. All employees of essential businesses have also been ordered to wear face coverings.
McGee has implemented an overnight curfew between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Those who don’t comply with those orders face a fine up to $1,000.
“During these difficult times, by staying apart, we are standing together to slow the spread of COVID-19,” said McGee in a statement.
Swampscott’s numbers represent a 20 percent increase over the town’s known cases just a week ago, according to Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald. No deaths have been announced as of Wednesday.
“This increase is consistent with trends on the state and national level,” said Fitzgerald in a statement. “It is more important now than ever to be vigilant in our social distancing effort.”
The town has passed several orders mandating residents stay at home unless they are essential workers or out doing a sanctioned activity, such as getting food and supplies. Residents have also been ordered to wear face masks.
Of Marblehead’s 52 cases, 11 people have recovered, according to the state Department of Public Health (DPH).
In Peabody, an emergency order requiring residents to wear face masks when entering essential businesses went into effect Wednesday. All essential business employees are also required to wear face coverings, according to the city website.
In Saugus, the town health department expects its numbers to increase considerably over the next couple of weeks, according to a notice posted on the town’s website.
In Revere and Chelsea, 75 percent of the costs associated with the Quality Inn’s operation will be covered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), with substantial additional support from the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA). The remainder will be financed equally by the Cities of Revere and Chelsea, according to Arrigo’s office.
Partners HealthCare will serve as the healthcare management team. In-room healthcare services will be provided, which will eliminate the need for residents to travel to doctors’ offices or hospitals, according to Arrigo.
“This contagion has really had a devastating impact on both the residents of Chelsea and Revere,” said Ambrosino at Wednesday’s press conference. “(This housing option is) going to make a difference in helping us contain the spread of the virus. Both (cities) have many residents who can’t return to untenable housing situations and properly quarantine. With this, we’re hopeful we can start to make a dent and mitigate the dangers of the virus in our communities.”
Chelsea has become one of the nation’s hot spots for the coronavirus. According to a message posted on the city’s website, Chelsea has the worst outbreak in Massachusetts and its rate of infection is even higher than New York City.
As of Tuesday, 712 people had tested positive for the coronavirus and 23 residents had died in Chelsea, a city of about 40,000 residents.
Revere has also been highly impacted. As of Wednesday, the city had 516 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and 19 deaths, according to Arrigo.
However, the daily percentage increase in cases appears to have slowed. From March 18 to March 25, known cases increased at rates of 100 percent, 50 percent, 0 percent, 33 percent, 100 percent, 100 percent, and 50 percent.
In the seven-day period starting April 7, known cases increased by 12 percent, 7 percent, 10 percent, 7 percent, 11 percent, 7 percent, and 5 percent.
Arrigo said Wednesday that everyone has to work together to slow the spread of the virus, which includes a “laser focus” on staying home.
The temporary housing option at Quality Inn has given both cities a chance to strategically support those who would otherwise not be able to stay home and quarantine, or who would be at risk of becoming more ill if they were to recover in a crowded hospital, Arrigo said.
“Revere is not an island,” said Arrigo. “None of us can shut our borders to this unprecedented pandemic. We must work across city lines to stop the spread. We are all doing our part to make sure that together we have a faster, better recovery for every single resident in the Commonwealth.”
Item reporter Elyse Carmosino contributed to this report.