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Another major COVID-19 surge in western New England

A rendering of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, not to scale.
U.S. National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
A rendering of the SARS-CoV-2 virus particles, not to scale.

Despite one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, Massachusetts is experiencing another COVID-19 resurgence with a daily case average at its highest point in nearly a year.

Connecticut too is experiencing a resurgence, and recently recorded its highest daily positivity rate in more than a year.

With growing infection rates and increasing concern about the delta and omicron variants, public health experts and some political leaders are pushing Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker to consider new restrictions, including a new statewide indoor mask mandate. However, the governor wants decisions about such steps left to local communities.

On And Another Thing we ask what has changed since the surge a year ago when schools were closed, few public gatherings were permitted, masks were mandatory and there were no vaccines.

Dr. Eric Dickson talks about the extra burden on health care staff in this web extra audio:

Dr. Dickson Web Extra

Guests:

  • Andrew Lover, Asst. Professor of Epidemiology at University of Massachusetts School of Public Health
  • Dr. Eric Dickson, CEO of UMass Memorial Health Care
  • James Harold, Professor of Philosophy at Mount Holyoke College
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