By JOSH RESNEK
Despite months of warnings, state mandates, and Draconian health regulations all intended to reduce the spread of the virus, the virus continues its deadly spread across the nation, in Everett, and most of Massachusetts.
Everett reported more than 500 new cases in the past ten days – with many people still believing the virus doesn’t exist, or that trying to get it under control doesn’t matter.
The City of Everett has been urging residents to stay at home, to social distance, wear face masks, and not to travel.
This did not stop the mayor from traveling to Aruba for the holidays.
More than 3,000 Americans are dying every day across the nation.
Infections are rising at approximately 250,000 a day – with no real end in sight until February or March, according to epidemiologists and the Center for Disease Control (CDC).
The fear right now in Everett and nearly everywhere else is that during the next three weeks, a serious spike in deaths and infections is expected to materialize as a result of the Christmas and New Year’s Holiday gatherings and travel that took place.
About 150,000 Americans are right now hospitalized with the virus. In California, the surge of cases is so out of control that the state is in a near virtual lockdown trying to contain the virus.
The virus is rampant in many Southern states and Western states.
Hospitals are crowded. Deaths have risen. The state’s health delivery system is breaking down under the weight of the added pressure of the virus.
It is the same throughout the nation.
The various vaccines are now being distributed and more than several million Americans have been vaccinated.
The vaccination process is off to a slow start everywhere because there is no central command office to manage the vaccination of at least 1 million to 2 million people a day as required to stop the spread of the virus.
Vaccine has arrived in Everett and nearly all Massachusetts cities and towns.
The first to receive the vaccine are the elderly confined in nursing homes as well as those who care for them.
Veterans at facilities like the Chelsea Soldier’s Home have received the vaccine.
First responders are supposed to be next and then to people over 75, and on and on all the way down the age and gender chain.
Everett’s failure to stem the spread of the virus points to the failure of the national government in demanding adherence to edicts guaranteed to stop the spread.
Business restrictions, closures, and business failures have been abundant and costly.
Perhaps among the most costly to the city – the closure of the Encore Hotel and the severe restrictions put upon the casino which is operating at severely reduced hours.
Thousands have been laid off.
Everett’s unemployment picture is large and growing.
The passage last week of the stimulus has put $600 checks into many Everett residents’ bank accounts in the past few days.
Most of those receiving unemployment had it cut off on December 26.
However, the stimulus guarantees the resumption of unemployment benefits for an additional eleven weeks.
An additional $300 a week stipend goes along with the benefits.
Those not receiving unemployment benefits this week or next will be paid for those weeks when the computer systems send out benefits.