Governor Charlie Baker is urging state residents to follow coronavirus safety protocols.
Baker says the state has seen an increase in coronavirus cases in recent days.
The governor says the state's free testing program is being expanded into several new communities today in response to the spike in cases.
The new testing locations include Springfield, Agawam, Brockton, Methuen, Revere, Taunton and Worcester.
The Governor says he is keeping the state open despite upticks in cases across the state. Some of the cases are attributed to a healthcare worker visiting a hot spot. Some of the other cases are attributed to a house party on The Cape.
Meantime, teachers say they will be seeing students this new school year who have various issues that they would not ordinarily see because of the pandemic...and they are urging state officials to come out with the protocols necessary to insure success in the classroom, be it in the actual building or through a hybrid system.
Many school districts across Massachusetts will likely be starting the fall semester two weeks late. State education officials and the three largest teachers unions in Massachusetts have reached an agreement on the issue.
Teachers can use the first ten days of the school year to redesign classroom lessons and learn ways to address issues children have faced during the pandemic.
The agreement sets September 16th as the latest date for children to return to class.
(Photo Credit: John Baibak, WHYN News)