The numbers by the Boston Public Health Commission that were released over the weekend were sobering.

East Boston’s COVID-19 infection rate has outpaced the rest of the city and has some of the highest number of confirmed cases.

The stats released by the BPHC that breaks down the number of cases and infection rates in each neighborhood  found Eastie has an infection rate of 27.7 COVID-19 cases per 10,000 residents with 130 confirmed cases.

Eastie was eclipsed only by Hyde Park that reported an infection rate of 30.4 cases per 10,000 residents. While Eastie and Hyde Park were in the top two, the two neighborhoods were followed by Mattapan that had an infection rate of 24.3 cases per 10,000 residents while Dorchester has an infection rate of 21.6 cases per 10,000 residents. The lowest infection rate in the city so far has been Fenway that only reported an infection rate of 8.4 cases per 10,000 residents.

With the deadly virus spreading more quickly in Eastie than in some other neighborhoods may have a lot to do with the fact many neighborhood residents are still working blue collared jobs at local stores, restaurants, grocery stores, as delivery services drivers, cleaning service workers to make ends meat and bring them into close contact with the general public according to experts.

Also, over the weekend, many in the neighborhood still did not heed Mayor Martin Walsh’s calls a week ago to stop playing organized sports like soccer and basketball at local city parks. Again on Saturday and Sunday parks like American Legion, LoPresti and the East Boston Memorial Stadium were again filled with teens and adults playing soccer and other games while not practicing social distancing.

The word of these ongoing activities has frustrated Mayor Martin Walsh who decided to impose even stricter restrictions in Eastie and across the city on Sunday to help curb the spread of COVID-10 that has already killed 19 Bostonians as of Tuesday.

The new measures align with guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and local public health officials, and if followed by all residents, are expected to reduce the impact and spread of COVID-19.

Mayor Walsh said public health modeling indicates that Boston is only 11 days away from peak demand for hospital resources, an estimate that emphasizes the critical need to flatten the curve immediately.

“I cannot stress enough that the actions we take now through the next several weeks will help curb the spread of this virus, and save lives,” said Mayor Walsh. “There is nothing that I won’t do as Mayor of the City of Boston to protect our residents, and at this very critical time, we must do everything we can as Bostonians to protect one another. This is bigger than any one person – this is about the greater good of our people. Stay safe, stay inside, and let’s get through this together.

Walsh said social and physical distancing remain the primary strategy to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The new measures that Mayor Walsh is putting into place strengthen the guidance previously issued around social and physical distancing, which include staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of 6 feet or more from others. These new measures went into effect Monday and will last through Monday, May 4, 2020.

The measures include:

Encouraging everyone to wear a face covering over their mouth and nose when in public:

In addition to social distancing when going out in public for an essential trip, wearing face covers will help to reduce the risk of a person spreading the virus, especially if they do not know they are sick. Face coverings should be worn anytime someone is outside the home, including on walks or other passive recreational activities.

Face coverings should not be placed on children under 2 years of age, anyone who has trouble breathing, or is unconscious, incapacitated or otherwise unable to remove the cover without assistance.

Face coverings can include a cloth, scarf, bandana, etc. that cover a person’s mouth and nose. Homemade face coverings should be made of intact, close-weave cloth and allow comfortable breathing. Visit CDC guidelines on face coverings for more information and guidance.

Face coverings should be frequently washed using a washing machine with detergent and hot water and dried on a hot cycle. They can also be hand washed with soap and warm water and left to dry.

It is advised that residents use a face covering, as opposed to a medical grade face masks, in order to preserve protective equipment for health workers and those serving on the front lines in response to COVID-19.

The Boston Public Health Commission is issuing a Public Health Advisory for everyone in Boston except essential workers to stay at home from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily: This advisory will address unnecessary trips to businesses, restaurants, and other locations, and is intended to encourage people to stay inside their homes at night.

Residents are encouraged to utilize delivery services as much as possible after 9 p.m.

As a reminder, residents are encouraged to remain in their homes as much as possible throughout the day and only leave for essential needs, including trips to the grocery store, pharmacy, emergency meal sites and other essential services. Residents are discouraged from visiting essential businesses only to browse and should be mindful of only visiting essential businesses to pick-up essential items.

Closing City parks with recreational sports areas:

Recreational sports areas in City parks, such as courts and fields, will be closed to limit exposure and contact between people. As a reminder, all playgrounds in Boston have been closed since March 20, 2020 and will remain closed. Areas for passive recreation, like walking and jogging, will remain open.

Additional signage will be posted on all recreational sports areas and outside of parks that will be closed. 

If needed, Boston Police are empowered to disperse gatherings and they can order people to vacate closed sections of parks.

Recommendations for people who are at higher risk:

For people over 65 and those with underlying health conditions, the City of Boston encourages taking extra precautions. Trips outside the house should only be made when absolutely necessary, for either food or medications. Those experiencing difficulty with access to food, please call 311.

In addition, taking walks or spending time outside is discouraged for the next few weeks, and exercising inside the home instead is encouraged as an alternative.

The underlying health conditions that can put someone more at risk are very common and include asthma, diabetes, heart conditions, kidney or liver disease or conditions that can cause a person to be immunocompromised, including cancer treatment and smoking.

In Boston, over 11 percent of adults have asthma, and the rate is higher in black (15 percent) and Latino (12 percent) residents, as well as in Dorchester and Roxbury (15 percent each). One in four Boston public high school students have asthma, according to the Boston Public Health Commission.

To date, nearly 45 percent of positive tests in Boston are in people under the age of 40 and more cases of severe illness are now being seen in young people. Further, nearly 80 percent of positive tests are in people under the age of 60. The CDC estimates that nationally 25 percent of people infected with COVID-19 are asymptomatic, and may not know they are a carrier of the virus, or that they could be infecting others.