The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put Suffolk County’s COVID-19 risk level high Friday and local health officials are urging residents to take precautions. In fact, ten of Massachusetts’ 14 counties are now in the high-risk category. “Hospital admissions have also increased over the past few weeks, and that probably tipped us into the orange category on the CDC map with most of our counties,” said Dr. Shira Doron, epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center. Citing the CDC’s risk level designation, UMass Boston students are required to wear masks on campus when returning from winter break. According to the Boston Public Health Commission, testing sites are reporting 18 new COVID-19 cases per day — a 22% increase over the past seven days. Boston hospitals reported 306 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations through Jan. 4, a 41% increase over the past 14 days. BPHC has also seen a 42% increase in virus levels in wastewater over the past seven days and a 116% increase over the past 14 days. “Based on the trends, it is imperative that we all protect ourselves and others. I understand there is a very high level of pandemic fatigue, but the numbers speak for themselves,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Secretary of the Boston Public Health Commission. Ojikutu urged residents to wear a mask indoors, stay home if sick, test for COVID-19, and receive vaccines or booster shots. Doron claims that a piecemeal mask policy will not make much of a difference in the overall outcome of this surge in impact on society as a whole,” she said. Doctors claim that vaccination and booster shots are the best way for everyone to protect themselves.
BOSTON —
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has put Suffolk County’s COVID-19 risk level high Friday and local health officials are urging residents to take precautions.
In fact, ten of Massachusetts’ 14 counties are now in the high-risk category.
“Hospital admissions have also increased over the past few weeks, and that probably tipped us into the orange category on the CDC map with most of our counties,” said Dr. Shira Doron, epidemiologist at Tufts Medical Center.
Citing the CDC’s risk level designation, UMass Boston students are required to wear masks on campus when returning from winter break.
According to the Boston Public Health Commission, testing sites are reporting 18 new COVID-19 cases per day — a 22% increase over the past seven days. Boston hospitals reported 306 new COVID-19-related hospitalizations through Jan. 4, a 41% increase over the past 14 days.
BPHC has also seen a 42% increase in virus levels in wastewater over the past seven days and a 116% increase over the past 14 days.
“Based on the trends, it is imperative that we all protect ourselves and others. I understand there is a very high level of pandemic fatigue, but the numbers speak for themselves,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Secretary of the Boston Public Health Commission.
Ojikutu urged residents to wear a mask indoors, stay home if sick, test for COVID-19, and receive vaccines or booster shots.
Doron claims that a piecemeal mask policy won’t make much of a difference in the overall outcome of this surge.
“I don’t think a mask mandate in one college, one school district, or even all school districts is likely to have an impact on the entire community,” she said.
Doctors claim that vaccination and booster shots are the best way for everyone to protect themselves.
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