Gov. Charlie Baker said Friday the state will now be providing every police office and firefighter in the state with protective facemasks.
“Effective today, the commonwealth will distribute respirator masks to all local law enforcement officers and firefighters,” Baker said. The effort will provide about 200,000 masks — each first responder will receive five masks, which amounts to a one-month supply, plus a spare.
Baker said the effort, organized by the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency, will be extended to sheriffs' offices and university police as well.
Some first responders had told WGBH News that they were concerned there were not enough masks available for them when they were being sent out on calls.
Baker also announced that the given the challenges faced by foster families, the state will be giving an additional $100 per month, per child, to all foster families for the next three months. That amounts to a 10-12% increase in the stipends foster families are paid to care for children in need.
Baker warned that it is still too early for the state to have a clear vision of when stay at home advisories may be lifted. Baker noted that the White House guidance defers to states to decide when to start reopening, but "before any state should consider efforts to slowly return to normal life, health experts urge states to look for infection rates and hospitalization to be on decline for about two weeks. Here in Massachusetts, we are still seeing daily increases in positive cases and hospitalizations."
