Second Bostonian dies from coronavirus; mayor hires retired Army general to oversee city response

Mayor Walsh announced the death this afternoon; did not provide further details.

"There is no reason to hoard or panic buy," he said at a press conference. The food supply chain remains strong, he said, adding that, in particular, stop lugging all those water bottles home, because your drinking water is safe.

Walsh said he has hired retired Army general Stanley McChrystal to coordinate city Covid-19 efforts. One of the things McChrystal Group will look at is planing out a system for delivering food to homes should that be necessary.

The mayor continued that some 16 homeless people were housed in a city tent set up for people with possible symptoms over the weekend. To date, no homeless people have been diagnosed with Covid-19.

Also, keep up the social distancing, even when you're picking up food at a restaurant, Walsh said.

Walsh said that people running into financial difficulties should talk to their banks about possible restructuring on outstanding mortgages and loans. "It's important to reach out to your banks," he said. He particularly urged landlords to do this so that they can help their tenants stay in their homes.

He said one Boston EMT and one police officer have tested positive for Covid-19 and that four other EMTs are now quarantined.