THE LATEST STATE FIGURES show a modest slowing of the growth in new COVID-19 cases, but troubling increases in deaths in Franklin, Berkshire, and Hampden counties. The number of positive […]
Rate of growth in COVID-19 cases slows
Posted inEconomy
Commonwealth’s COVID-19 response leaves too many behindÂ
IT’S BEEN MORE than three weeks since Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency. Despite a number of efforts that have aimed to ensure that groups are not left behind […]
Posted inOpinion
Here’s how to steer a school through uncertain times
AS SCHOOL LEADERS, we prepare for shutdowns of two or three days due to extreme weather. We prepare for terrifying scenarios like school shootings. But not a single school leader […]
Posted inOpinion
We should all be wearing masks
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is now recommending everyone wear a face covering, particularly in public settings where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain. CommonWealth recently reported […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: Unusually high amount of deaths in Franklin Cty
DATA FROM THE MASSACHUSETTS Department of Public Health indicate an unusually high number of COVID-19 fatalities are occurring in Franklin County. Three new deaths were reported in Friday’s report, bringing […]
Posted inCriminal Justice
SJC orders release of most defendants awaiting trial
THE STATE’S HIGHEST COURT Friday ordered nearly all people held in jails awaiting trial be released on their own recognizance because of the threat of COVID-19 infection. The unanimous opinion […]
Posted inHealth Care
State to track web of COVID-19 contacts
THE STATE IS PLANNING to launch by the end of this month a much broader and sophisticated system for tracking anyone who has come in contact with a person who […]
Posted inEconomy
Marijuana consumers flock to medical market
MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS CAN no longer walk into recreational marijuana shops, which have been ordered closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. But that doesn’t mean there’s no way to get weed. […]
Posted inCriminal Justice, Health Care
Judge starts releasing ICE detainees during coronavirus spread concerns
A FEDERAL JUDGE on Friday ordered the release of three immigrant detainees being held by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County House of Correction to reduce the potential for the spread […]
Posted inHealth Care
I had COVID-19. Or did I?
JUST OVER TWO weeks ago, I scrambled first for the medicine cabinet, and then for bed. After an ugly 15-round bout with the illness, I’m feeling much better. I had […]
Posted inOpinion
Progress on homelessness/COVID-19 is uneven
AT ONE OF HIS DAILY COVID-19 press briefings, Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the Newton Pavilion, formerly part of the Boston Medical Center campus, would serve as a health care […]
Posted inHealth Care
Is a negative COVID-19 test really negative?
I RECENTLY TESTED NEGATIVEÂ for coronavirus. I was told instead it was probably a “viral upper respiratory infection,” which meant spending a few days married to my nebulizer machine. But now […]
Posted inThe Download
Is a negative COVID-19 test really a negative?
I recently tested negative for coronavirus. I was told instead it was probably a “viral upper respiratory infection,” which meant spending a few days married to my nebulizer machine. But […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: Concerns rise at long-term care facilities
RESIDENTS OF LONG-TERM CARE facilities across the state are testing positive for COVID-19 in growing numbers, raising concerns that the highly contagious virus could sweep through a very vulnerable population. […]
Posted inArts and Culture
Museum of Fine Arts losses at $1.4m and growing
A MASSACHUSETTS ART MUSEUM laid off almost three-quarters of its staff. Another expects to face a budget deficit in the tens of millions of dollars. Leisure destinations that rely on […]
Posted inHealth Care
Physician assistants provide workforce flexibility
MICHELLE SHKNEVSKY, a general surgery physician assistant at Brockton Hospital, is actually seeing fewer patients since the COVID-19 epidemic began. With no elective surgeries being performed, her unit needs fewer […]
Posted inUncategorized
Judge indicates he plans to release ICE detainees
US DISTRICT COURT JUDGE William Young said on Thursday that he is considering releasing immigrants being held by Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the Bristol County jail to reduce the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Dr. Lee: ICU units won’t beat this disease
This is the fourth conversation between Dr. Jarone Lee, a frontline critical care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital and associate professor at Harvard Medical School, and Dr. Paul Hattis, an […]
Posted inHealth Care
705 to 2,580 COVID-19 deaths projected in Mass.
A GROUP OF EXPERTS assembled by the Baker administration is projecting that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases during the course of the pandemic in Massachusetts is going to rise […]
Posted inNews Analysis, Politics
Democrats, Republicans divided over coronavirus threat
OVER THE WEEKEND, public health experts warned that the national death toll from the coronavirus could kill up to 200,000 people, escalating the risk faced by the country. Despite these […]
Posted inUncategorized
Remembering the dead
AS OF WEDNESDAY, 122 people had died from COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Many died alone. Their funerals were tiny; their memorial services were postponed. Their families often grieved alone. These are some […]
Posted inThe Download
Remembering the dead
As of Wednesday, 122 people had died from COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Many died alone. Their funerals were tiny; their memorial services were postponed. Their families often grieved alone. These are […]
Posted inHealth Care
Patriots plane delivers 1m masks from China
MASSACHUSETTS LANDED about 1 million N95 medical-grade respirator masks on Thursday through a humanitarian mission orchestrated by the Baker administration with the help of US and Chinese officials and the […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: Franklin Cty. reports 3 more deaths
THREE MORE COVID-19 deaths were reported on Wednesday in tiny Franklin County, bringing its total to seven and solidifying its position as the Massachusetts county with the most deaths per […]