By JOSH RESNEK
Despite the widely held illusion that we are drifting pleasantly out of the clutches of the pandemic, the harsh reality is that infections are rising in several dozen states.
Here in Massachusetts, the numbers have been steady but falling gradually.
The infection rate is at 0.8% this week – the fourth week of statistics that reveal the state has managed to bring – for now – the virus under control.
However, many communities, 15 to be exact, and this includes Everett, have persistent higher rates of infection that point to a lack of proper response by the population to the epidemic.
The city reported no new cases of the virus Monday, a tremendous bit of positive news.
As of Tuesday morning, there were 2,217 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the City of Everett with 1893 being recovered.
This is up 0 cases from Monday.
On September 20, 1,470 individuals were tested throughout the Commonwealth with 2.2% testing positive and there were 367 COVID-19 patients hospitalized throughout Massachusetts.
In Everett, the general perception is that many residents are letting down their guards as this crisis drags on.
Not everyone is wearing masks.
Kids especially are not conforming as they should.
The city’s parks remain closed because of this.
There is the common belief that the virus has been defeated.
But it hasn’t – and the fact
is that it is spreading around the nation, and rapidly among many states, proves the difficulties of getting back to normal.
Nearly all our social institutions have been affected by the virus and the attempts to control it.
While younger people think they are invincible, they are not.
Additionally, the real problem is that those who feel invincible transfer the virus to those who are not – to parents, to grandparents, to friends who have preexisting condition, and on and on.
Schools have reopened remotely.
Many larger businesses are running remotely, with most employees working from home.
Smaller businesses are still struggling with the effects of high unemployment and severely depressed business figures.
Encore is struggling.
Even larger energy concerns are working in circumstances where many hundreds of thousands are not paying their utility bills.
Smaller real estate owners are fighting to pay their mortgages as their tenants are fighting to pay their rents.
The lines for free food have grown larger and larger at the cities three main food distribution locations.
The Wednesday line fo free food at the Connolly Center stretches beyond the corner of Ferry and Chelsea Streets from week to week.