By JOSH RESNEK
The pandemic and its hold on us continues.
Add to this, the snowstorm and the disruptions it has caused.
Nothing like an old fashioned February New England Nor’ Easter to slow down pandemic initiatives as well as the city’s business life.
Many small retailers, restaurant and deli venues have been hurt by the pandemic and the restrictions placed upon business here.
Again, the snowstorm didn’t help.
The city announced a parking ban Monday morning to last through the storm.
City hall and all public buildings closed at 1:00 p.m. Monday.
As the nation tries to roll out the vaccines, the virus continues to take its toll nationwide.
Nationwide figures have dropped.
Last week, the national average of daily new infections dropped to about 190,000 a day.
Deaths remained in the 2,000 to 3,000 region and stood at 450,000 since the start of the pandemic last March.
Here in Everett, the State Department of Public Health reported 250 new cases of the viruses.
The city remained on the state’s hot spot list.
About 100 men and women have died in the city from the virus since its start.
The vaccine roll-out is stumbling along.
Everett residents 75 and older will be able to get vaccinated beginning February 6-7.
First responders have been vaccinated as well.
The website for Everett residents ages 75+ to receive a vaccine is now live. For vaccination news, visit http://www.maimmunizations.org and search Everett to be directed to either 2/6 or 2/7. There are 800 appointments available.
The snowstorm has made free food distribution difficult. Before the snow, the bitter cold didn’t help either.
Reports out of Washington of a new stimulus has raised the hopes of those who have lost jobs, who need extended unemployment, and who can’t pay their mortgages or rent.
It is expected the new stimulus will provide aid to communities for the roll-out of the vaccine, for a return to in-class school sessions, and for stimulus checks of $1400 for Americans making less than $75,000 a year
The federal government has extended a moratorium on evictions.
Massachusetts figures overall are trending downward.
There were 79 deaths reported last week by the state.
The state’s infection rate is also falling.