CHELSEA, Mass. (WBZ NewsRadio) — Officials are urging residents of Chelsea to stay home 24 hours a day, as the city's rate of coronavirus infections continues to climb.
"Chelsea is suffering in this pandemic," city manager Tom Ambrosino told WBZ NewsRadio. "We have, as far as I can determine, the highest infection rate in the Commonwealth."
Chelsea is now the epicenter of the virus in Massachusetts, with nearly 400 cases and ten deaths reported as of Thursday.
That makes the city's rate of infection about one percent, which is double Boston's infection rate, and almost the same as the infection rate in New York City. Officials now asking residents to stay inside their homes at all times of day.
"It's not a curfew, I can't enforce a curfew," said Ambrosino. "We've told people; stay home. No matter what time of day it is, 24/7, unless you have essential reason to go out."
The city counsel has also set up an emergency fund for residents to help pay for food, hygiene essentials, and rent.
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