This Monday, March 30, 2020, photo shows the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Mass. The superintendent of the veteran's home was removed from his duties Monday after 11 residents died, including at least five who had tested positive for COVID-19 and another five whose results are pending. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death....
This Monday, March 30, 2020, photo shows the Holyoke Soldiers' Home in Holyoke, Mass. The superintendent of the veteran's home was removed from his duties Monday after 11 residents died, including at least five who had tested positive for COVID-19 and another five whose results are pending. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people, but for some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.... Credit: Jerrey Roberts

BOSTON (AP) — Gov. Charlie Baker is extending the state’s stay-at-home advisory through May 4.

The Republican governor said Tuesday that Massachusetts residents must continue to practice social distancing to help slow the spread of COVID-19 as the state anticipates a surge of cases in mid-April.

The state is also planning to release an updated list of essential businesses that will be allowed to remain open — including markets and pharmacies, he said.

“The next few weeks will be critical to mitigating the spread of the disease,” Baker said.

Baker also said that motels and short-term rentals like Airbnb may no longer be booked for vacation and leisure purposes and can only be used to house essential workers related to battling the coronavirus.

By the numbers

The number of people in Massachusetts who have died from COVID-19 rose to 89 on Tuesday, an increase of 34 deaths since Monday, according to the state Department of Public Health. More than 6,600 residents have tested positive.

Nearly 47,000 have been tested, and more than 560 have been hospitalized.

Prisoner release hearing

Massachusetts’ highest court is considering a bid to release certain pretrial and convicted inmates over concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

Lawyers are arguing via telephone conference Tuesday in the case that seeks the release of certain pretrial detainees as well as those serving sentences who are nearing the end of their term, vulnerable to COVID-19 or don’t pose a threat to the public.

Seven district attorneys who are opposing the bid say inmates should be considered for release on a case-by-case basis. It’s not clear whether the high court will issue a ruling on Tuesday.

Another James Taylor gift

Singer James Taylor and his wife, Kim, have donated $350,000 to a hospital near their Massachusetts home to support the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

The gift to Berkshire Medical Center in Pittsfield announced Monday comes a week after the couple donated $1 million to Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston to battle COVID-19.

Democratic convention

The chairman of the Massachusetts Democratic Party wants to cancel the party convention scheduled for May 30 because of the threat from the coronavirus.

Chairman Gus Bickford has asked the party’s state committee to cancel the convention. The committee is scheduled to meet remotely on Saturday.

The decision is supported by the two top candidates in a race for a seat in the U.S. Senate, incumbent Edward Markey and challenger U.S. Rep. Joseph Kennedy III.

Kennedy and Markey agreed that Markey would be declared the winner of the convention and Kennedy would make the ballot for the November election.