Before 23 March , Massachusetts had less than 700 cases , less than 75 hospitalizations and less than 6 deaths due to COVID-19 .
As of March 23 , Massachusetts had 777 cases , 79 hospitalizations , and nine deaths due to COVID-19.School closures began March 9 , when Massachusetts Institute of Technology ( MIT ) moved large classes to only-online for the rest of the semester , and a handful of local schools closed .