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WITH THE NEWEST FROM THE STATEHOUSE. REPORTER: A SURGE IS EXPECTING TOMORROW AND THE GOVERNOR’S WARNING PEOPLE TO BE CAREFUL. HE SAYS PEOPLE SHOULD NOT THINK THEY CAN SNAP THEIR FINGERS AND GO BACK TO THE WAY THINGS WERE. HE SAYS SOCIAL DISTANCING WILL HAVE AN IMPACT AT THE PEAK OF THE VIRUS, BUT SAID IT’S TOO SOON TO DRAW ANY POSITIVE CONCLUSIONS. >> I WILL BE INCREDIBLY CAREFUL ABOUT NOT PERMITTING THIS INSIDIOUS, AWFUL, AND HORRIBLY DANGEROUS AND CONTAGIOUS VIRUS FROM COMING BACK ANYTIME SOON. I THINK THAT HAS TO BE THE WAY WE ALL LOOK AT THIS. REPORTER: GOVERNOR BAKER SAID HE’S NOT READY TO CANCEL SCHOOL FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR. HE SAID THAT THERE WERE INEQUITIES IN THE ROLLOUT OF REMOTE LEARNING ACROSS THE STATE AND SCHOOLS NEEDED STRATEGY ON MOVING THE STUDENTS FORWARD. THE GOVERNO MENTIONED THE FEDERAL STOCKPILE IS SENDING THE STATE ANOTH

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The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed 96 new COVID-19-related deaths across the state as of Friday afternoon, bringing the state's total to 599.The 96 COVID-19 deaths reported by the DPH on Friday include patients who died of the novel coronavirus in the last 8 days, dating back to April 2.The youngest new person to die from the virus was a woman from Norfolk County in her 40s, while the deaths of four people over the age of 100 from Worcester, Norfolk, Essex and Suffolk counties were attributed to COVID-19.The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to a new total of 20,974 Friday after 2,033 new cases were reported by state health officialsMass. health care system braces for COVID-19 surgeGov. Charlie Baker said Friday that the state now expects the worst of the surge to arrive closer to April 20, and public health officials are working with hospitals to quickly prepare for the expected influx of patients. The DPH said 2,124 of the cases have been reported statewide at 176 different long-term care facilities.As of Friday afternoon, the DPH said 102,372 people have been tested in Massachusetts after 7,414 new tests were conducted.According to state health officials, patients are known to have been hospitalized in 1,956 cases, while 5,731 patients did not have to be hospitalized. The DPH said 13,287 cases remain under investigation.County breakdown of cases:Barnstable County: 464Berkshire County: 329Bristol County: 1,086Dukes County: 12Essex County: 2670Franklin County: 135Hampden County: 1,394Hampshire County: 194Middlesex County: 4,447Nantucket County: 9Norfolk County: 2,216Plymouth County: 1,677Suffolk County: 4,534Worcester County: 1,678The county of residence of 129 Massachusetts patients are unknown.The new reporting of racial and ethnic data that began on Wednesday remains very much incomplete, with the information either unknown or missing for 65 percent or more of the confirmed cases and deaths from coronavirus. Public officials, however, remain concerned that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the spread of the virus. A statewide stay-at-home advisory and mandatory closure of nonessential businesses is in effect in Massachusetts through May 4.It instructs all residents except for employees of essential businesses to stay home, with an exception for outdoor exercise and trips to get needed items such as groceries or medicine.The governor urged residents to respect the guidance and "play their part," in order to protect public health and help officials limit the surge in cases that are expected to come around mid-April.Baker called distancing "our single greatest weapon" against the virus.President Donald Trump extended federal social distancing guidelines until the end of April. PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+Cg==.