Boston Mayor Reports Rising COVID Positivity Rate, Launches National Poetry Month

BOSTON — July 22, 2026 — Boston Mayor Kim Janey reported a rising COVID-19 positivity rate and launched National Poetry Month in an early April 2021 press conference. The city recorded 328 new confirmed cases, raising its cumulative total to 64,321, along with four new deaths bringing the total to 1,345. The positivity rate reached 4.8 percent, up from 4.2 percent, which Janey said translates to more than 216 cases per day. Chief of Health and Human Services Marty Martinez said the city was working with community partners to reinforce public health messaging, declining to specify new enforcement measures targeting bars, restaurants, or colleges. Chief of Arts and Culture Cara Elliott Ortega announced a full slate of April programming, including an open mic series and the city's inaugural Roxbury Poetry Festival on June 5. Boston Poet Laureate Portia Olayiwola performed an original work in progress, "Children's March 1963," and invoked Audre Lorde's declaration that "poetry is not a luxury."