By Josh Resnek
Unbelievably enough, from November 22 to December 5, Massachusetts reported thousands of new cases of COVID-19.
The numbers of new cases has risen dramatically during the past few months.
The seven day average of new cases for the above period was 2,856 new cases.
To date, Massachusetts has recorded 19,849 deaths from COVID-19. Middlesex County leads the pack with 3,998 deaths and 175,000 cases.
Almost 1 million cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Massachusetts since the pandemic began.
Nationwide, 54,000 people are hospitalized with COVID-19.
Almost 14,000 are in intensive care units.
Between November 22 and December 5 Massachusetts logged 45,111 new cases.
The seven day national average of new cases is at 121,377, according to statistics compiled by the New York Times.
As of the beginning of December, 86.5%of the residents of Massachusetts had received at least one shot of vaccine.
About 72% of Massachusetts residents have received two doses.
Right now, there is a push for resident to get themselves booster shots to enhance the efficacy of the vaccines, especially in light of the new Omicron strain of the virus which has turned up in the United States.
It is also flu season, further complicating the medical muddle.
In Europe, many nations are having to curtail tourism and impose new restrictions on travel because of the post-Thanksgiving explosion of COVID-19 and the appearance of Omicron.
For those Americans traveling to foreign countries there are restrictions when they are arrive. There are restrictions when they return and this goes beyond presenting a valid vaccination card.
Testing of all those travelers returning from foreign countries into the United States is now required.
On June 6, the COVID-19 was just about defeated here.
But since then, the numbers have risen dramatically, from less than 100 new cases in a week to a seven day average of 3,734.
Bottom line – this virus isn’t over and remains deadly.