As Massachusetts faces coronavirus second surge, doctor urges residents to make choices that ‘will save lives’
As coronavirus cases rise across Massachusetts and college campuses wrestle with a virus uptick, a leading doctor in the state is pleading with people to make choices that “will save lives.”
Bay State health officials in recent weeks have often been reporting more than 1,000 daily cases, including Thursday’s report of 1,761, the highest count since the spring.
The state’s average daily incidence rate over the past two weeks has jumped up to 15.3 per 100,000, compared to 11.8 in the previous 14 days. The state as a result is implementing new coronavirus restrictions on Friday.
Meanwhile, cases are rising on college campuses, triggering a few schools to lockdown.
As the state grapples with this second surge of cases, the Massachusetts Medical Society president on Thursday urged residents to make smart choices that will protect health care workers.
“This coronavirus is not relenting and the choices you make will save lives or will cost lives,” Dr. David A. Rosman said in a statement. “The second surge is here, and it is a threat to all of our lives, including those who choose to or must work closely with those who are ill and contagious.”
Many health care workers have died from the virus or have become critically ill, he noted.
“By choosing to stay home or to wear a mask if you must be out, you’re not only reducing the spread of the disease and putting the health of your family and community at the forefront, but you’re protecting the lives of your health care team and essential workers,” Rosman added. “We need to be doing everything we can to make certain that our health care resources — the most important being our people, our workforce — are not overwhelmed and can meet the influx of patients who need lifesaving care.”
Worcester’s Assumption University last week entered a lockdown amid a virus spike. The shelter-in-place will end Monday, the school’s president announced Thursday.
Westfield State University on Wednesday announced a campus shelter-in-place after 19 residential students and four commuter students tested positive for the virus.
“The shelter-in-place order is meant to create a ‘bubble’ for our campus to help mitigate further spread of COVID-19,” wrote Interim President Roy Saigo.
Meanwhile, the last two daily reports for Boston University and Northeastern University show the highest two-day total of cases on those respective campuses — BU’s 21 cases and NU’s 13 cases. The positive rate continues to remain low for those schools.
Rosman said he is “urging and pleading” with residents to stay home.
“Staying home includes choosing not to celebrate Thanksgiving in our customary ways, which is disappointing and gut-wrenching for us all,” he added. “We can and we will get through this, but just how quickly and how healthy is dependent on our willingness to make selfless sacrifices for the greater good.”
from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/34Zr1MS
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