The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated Suffolk County’s COVID-19 risk level to high Friday, and local health officials are urging residents to take precautions. In fact, ten of Massachusetts’ 14 counties are now in the high-risk category. “Hospitalization numbers are up over the last few weeks as well and that’s probably what tipped us over into the orange category of the CDC map with most of our counties,” said Dr. Shira Doron, Tufts Medical Center epidemiologist. Citing the CDC’s risk level designation, UMass Boston students will be required to wear masks on campus when they return from winter break.According to the Boston Public Health Commission, testing sites are reporting 18 new COVID-19 cases per day – a 22% increase in the past seven days. Boston’s hospitals reported 306 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations through Jan. 4, which is a 41% increase in the past 14 days. BPHC has also seen a 42% increase in the viral concentration in wastewater in the past seven days and a 116% increase in the past 14 days. “Based on the trends, it is imperative that we all protect ourselves and others. I understand there’s a very high level of pandemic fatigue, but the numbers speak for themselves,” Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of Public Health and executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, said. Ojikutu urged residents to wear a mask indoors, stay home when sick, test for COVID-19 and get vaccines or boosters. Doron asserts that piecemeal mask policies won’t make much of a difference in the overall outcome of this surge.”I don’t think a mask mandate in one college, or one school district, or even all school districts is likely to have any impact on the community at large,” she said. Doctors maintain that vaccination and keeping up with boosters is the best way for everyone to protect themselves.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention elevated Suffolk County’s COVID-19 risk level to high Friday, and local health officials are urging residents to take precautions.
In fact, ten of Massachusetts’ 14 counties are now in the high-risk category.
“Hospitalization numbers are up over the last few weeks as well and that’s probably what tipped us over into the orange category of the CDC map with most of our counties,” said Dr. Shira Doron, Tufts Medical Center epidemiologist.
Citing the CDC’s risk level designation, UMass Boston students will be required to wear masks on campus when they return from winter break.
According to the Boston Public Health Commission, testing sites are reporting 18 new COVID-19 cases per day – a 22% increase in the past seven days. Boston’s hospitals reported 306 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations through Jan. 4, which is a 41% increase in the past 14 days.
BPHC has also seen a 42% increase in the viral concentration in wastewater in the past seven days and a 116% increase in the past 14 days.
“Based on the trends, it is imperative that we all protect ourselves and others. I understand there’s a very high level of pandemic fatigue, but the numbers speak for themselves,” Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, commissioner of Public Health and executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, said.
Ojikutu urged residents to wear a mask indoors, stay home when sick, test for COVID-19 and get vaccines or boosters.
Doron asserts that piecemeal mask policies won’t make much of a difference in the overall outcome of this surge.
“I don’t think a mask mandate in one college, or one school district, or even all school districts is likely to have any impact on the community at large,” she said.
Doctors maintain that vaccination and keeping up with boosters is the best way for everyone to protect themselves.
