Boston coronavirus cluster curbs campaigning

BOSTON - It's not just shaking hands and kissing babies that's falling by the wayside as campaigns adapt to a world with coronavirus. Even passing a pen to sign a candidate's petition is a potential danger.

Campaigns in Massachusetts are eyeing virtual town halls and increased digital ad spending to keep their bids afloat as voters hunker down at home to avoid the spread of COVID-19.

The Bay State has seen a steep rise in coronavirus cases over the past week, with 95 patients testing positive for coronavirus. Seventy seven of those cases are linked to a Biogen conference held at a Boston hotel in late February. Several of the remaining cases were linked to international travel, but a number of illnesses cannot be traced and are assumed to have spread person-to-person.