Vaccinations have started in Everett for front line workers
By JOSH RESNEK
Everett remains one of the state’s top hot spots for COVID-19.
Christmas week was a bit kinder to the city.
The Department of Public Health reported slightly over 300 new cases last week as compared with 450 the week before.
Statewide, cases rose dramatically as did deaths.
Worse still, is the expected surge in cases following the
Christmas holiday which will likely occur about two weeks after Christmas.
Officials are also cautioning Everett residents and people all over the United States about the possibility and likelihood of a second surge following the New Year’s Eve holiday.
The Christmas and New Years’ surges will cause January to be the worst month of the epidemic which began in Marchand by a wide margin.
The vaccines have arrived in Massachusetts, and in Everett.
Senior living residents have begun to be vaccinated here and all over the state.
The Trump administration promised that 20 million Americans would be vaccinated by the end of December.
That number is closer to 2 million vaccinated within the end of the month only days away, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
Hospitalizations are higher across the nation.
So far, 63,000 Americans have died in December.
A total of 334,000 Americans have died since March.
City officials are continuing to advise all residents to socially distance and to wear face masks.
Restaurants and other businesses covered by the state’s mandates are operating at vastly reduced crowd figures now pegged at 25% capacity in most instances.
The Encore casino remains open but at vastly reduced operating hours.