Boston Coronavirus: More Than 600 Cases, 2 Deaths

BOSTON — Mayor Marty Walsh predicted Sunday that the city's biggest increase in new coronavirus cases is still to come.

As of Saturday afternoon, Walsh said, 614 Boston residents have tested positive for COVID-19. Two of those residents have died. Statewide, there have been 4,2357 cases reported and 44 deaths, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

"People keep talking about 'the surge' and we haven't seen the surge yet, although every day we seen more and more cases," Walsh said during a television appearance Sunday on WCVB's "On the Record."

Walsh asked residents to take social distancing guidelines seriously, and to cut out the gatherings of basketball, street hockey and tennis. He said the Parks Department will put zip ties on all the basketball hoops at city parks.

"There are too many people not paying attention (to social distancing) right now and it's a dangerous thing," Walsh said.

Walsh also gave an update on when construction may be able to resume in Boston. Walsh has banned all construction in the city, with the exception of work at hospitals. This contrasted with Gov. Charlie Baker's policy allowing construction work to continue elswhere in the state.

Walsh said he's had conversations with Baker about their different approaches. He said he's working with state officials to get proper washing stations and procedures established at construction sites before he allowing work to resume.

"We want to make sure when construction starts in Boston, they have same protections as first responders." Walsh said.