Pandemic – Everett Leader Herald

The struggle against COVID-19

MARCH 20: Patrons at the Grace Food Pantry Everett collect food from the service one year into the pandemic. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

Infections fall, but pandemic fatigue sets in

By JOSH RESNEK

Many of us from Massachusetts watch the television reporting of huge masses of drunken people swarming the entire length of Miami Beach and almost shutting down the city and we wonder – are we missing something?

With none of the partiers wearing masks on Miami Beach, and Florida basically wide open, again, we have to question ourselves: why aren’t we acting the same way as the partiers in Florida and in other states where mask are not required.

With deaths at more than 530,000 nationwide from the virus, and infections continuing to rise at about 60,000 every day, is the danger over from the COVID-19?

Is the pandemic done and finished?

No, it isn’t.

It appears to be under control, but this isn’t true, either. What is fact is that we are all tired of the restrictions on our lives but doubting about what comes next, and with good reason.

No one wants to get sick.

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The Pandemic conundrum

All of us have watched and experienced to the fullest, nearly everything the pandemic has thrown at us.

Some have lost loved ones. Others have lost businesses and their jobs. Many others cannot pay their rent or meet their mortgage obligations. Many, many thousands of people now unemployed cannot find jobs.

In the meantime, the economy sputters along.

Mostly everyone in the restaurant business is trying to survive. For restaurant employees and gig workers who work for themselves, the pandemic has been a disaster.

At least the next Stimulus package will provide for adequate unemployment compensation to carry these displaced employees for months to come, and to provide checks for families making $150,000 or less and for younger people out on their own over 18.

Small businesses will qualify for aid and on and on.

The conundrum comes because we are again lulling ourselves into complacency as though the pandemic is over.

It is not over.

Two-thousand people a day are dying all over the nation. Seventy-thousand is being infected every day.

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Mayor not doing enough to help

Screen Shot 2020-04-16 at 5.30.42 PM.png — Karina Sousa, of Helenquan Florist on Ferry Street, shows off handmade face
masks she exchanged for food donations during the Covid-19 pandemic. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

“The city is not offering anything,” Adrien says

By Josh Resnek

Shutting down the city. Calling an early emergency.

“These were a must. As this crisis continues, we need to act for our residents and our businesspeople,” Councilor at Large Gerly Adrien told the Leader Herald.

“The city needs to be doing more to protect those cannot pay their mortgages. The city should protect rent payers who cannot pay for their apartments because they’ve become unemployed,” she added.

“Without mortgage and rent relief like Mayor Curtatone has instituted in Somerville, without small business relief, Everett faces a Coronavirus catastrophe,” she said.

Everett has not yet announced such moratoriums on paying rent and mortgages.

This has been done by Mayor Marty Walsh in Boston.

Everett is not offering aid in applying for unemployment and SBA loans as is being done in Somerville and other cities.

“When you compare the resources being offered by the mayor in Everett, they pale in comparison to other cities like ours,” she added.

“People need help here very badly.The mayor isn’t offering any help beyond enforcing social distancing. Everett can and must do better,” she said.

City Council President Rosa DiFlorio told the Leader she is growing concerned about the next budget.

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Lockdown continues as cases rise

Screen Shot 2020-04-16 at 5.12.54 PM.png — A few cars travel on a near-empty Broadway as a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. keeps nonessential workers off the street. (Photo by Jim Mahoney)

City preparing for long journey

By Josh Resnek

The Coronavirus has not yet reached its high point for infections and deaths.

Everett’s most current official figure of those infected is above 450 with that number rising about 25-50 new cases a day as the new week is upon us. Three deaths have been suffered due to the crisis.

The crisis, according to state officials, will not be ending anytime soon.

The virus will not magically disappear and life return to normal.

The true number of infected residents here is unknown. Not enough testing has been done to get a real time handle on just how greatly the virus has spread in the community.

One epidemiologist used the following metaphor to describe where the nation is at.

“Many climbers die attempting to reach the top of Mt. Everest. Many more climbers die try- ing to make it back down the mountain.”

The top American epidemiologist Dr. Anthony Fauci has strongly suggested that reaching the top of the graph line being charted for the epidemic is not panacea.

Reaching the peak is key.

Continuing the practice of social distancing is paramount.

Coming down from the top takes a long time, he has repeatedly told the nation during the daily briefing being held by the president.

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Coronavirus numbers going upward

77 hit by pandemic taking hold locally

By Josh Resnek

One week ago, 17 Everett residents had contracted the Coronavirus but no one had yet succumbed to the virus.

What a difference a week makes when an epidemic is hitting home.

Three residents of the city have died since last week.

The Tuesday count stood at 77 in Everett infected, with reports that the Cambridge Alliance Hospital (formerly the Whidden) has been deluged with new admissions.

Some of the patients arriving at the hospital were unconscious, according to hospital officials.

As many as 20 patients are presently in the ICU ward receiving intensive care.

The overflow in Everett is being sent to Boston. No visitors are presently allowed at the local hospital here. Ten out 20 in the ICU are younger people between the ages of 22-58.

The three whom passed at the hospital included a 41 year old male.

In neighboring Revere, 166 have been infected by the virus, the vast majority of them at the Jack Sutter House on Revere Beach which houses elderly.

Five have died there in the last week, dozens are infected.

Chelsea has 157 reported cases presently, with two deaths.

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