Coronavirus MA: Man, 31, Becomes Youngest To Die
MASSACHUSETTS — A 31-year-old man became the state's youngest person to die from the new coronavirus, a jarring development that may reframe the way younger people view the deadly virus known as COVID-19.
More than half of the 122 Massachusetts residents who have died from the coronavirus succumbed in the past two days, as state health officials reported 33 new deaths for the second straight day Wednesday.
The Boston Globe reported one of the people who died was Riley Rumrill, an affable 31-year-old originally from Alabama. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health earlier said a Suffolk County man in his 30s with a preexisting condition died.
The preexisting condition was asthma, The Globe reported.
DPH also reported 1,118 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total to 7,738. Even as testing expands — more than 51,000 have been administered, DPH said Wednesday afternoon — the true total is thought to be significantly higher.
Boston has seen 1,057 cases and eight deaths, including five new deaths reported Wednesday.
The continued spike in numbers came as the National Guard worked to turn the DCU Center in Worcester into the state's first field hospital to deal with an expected influx of COVID-19 patients. The DCU Center will house some 250 beds.
Gov. Charlie Baker, speaking Wednesday at the DCU Center, said the state expects to erect additional field hospitals.
Baker said this week a surge of coronavirus patients is expected April 7-17.
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This article originally appeared on the Boston Patch
