GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Wednesday moved to address the childcare needs of those on the frontlines of the COVID-19 outbreak, ordering all existing early education and childcare centers to shut down on Monday and authorizing state officials to set up a new network of centers catering primarily to emergency personnel, medical staff, and others. Dr. […]
coronavirus
Posted inHealth Care
In virus battle, health providers charge into harm’s way
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER announced emergency orders on Tuesday that will loosen some licensing requirements for health care providers, moves that could increase the supply of physicians, nurses, and other frontline health care workers in the state to deal with coronavirus crisis. Baker’s orders will allow physicians who retired within the last year, with no complaints […]
Posted inHealth Care
Campaigning in the coronavirus era
STATE HOUSE NEWS SERVICE DOOR-TO-DOOR CANVASSING has been replaced with phone calls and tweeting. Local elections officials are weighing new ways to expand absentee ballot access for worried voters. Candidates are experimenting with virtual town halls and blending public health information into their messages. This is campaigning in the coronavirus era, and for the next […]
Posted inHealth Care
Federal immigration services offices to be shuttered
Updated Tuesday evening: Staffers and a spokesperson from US Citizenship and Immigration Services confirmed with CommonWealth that the agency is suspending “all face-to-face services” with applicants at all field and asylum offices nationwide from Wednesday, March 18, to at least April 1. USCIS field offices will send notices to applicants with scheduled appointments and naturalization ceremonies […]
Posted inPolitics
The rumor that won’t die — shelter in place
This story was updated Tuesday afternoon to include the governor’s latest denial and news that New York’s mayor is considering a shelter-in-place order. GOV. CHARLIE BAKER ON SUNDAY denied he was preparing to issue a 14-day shelter-in-place order, calling it “wild speculation.” On Monday, he dismissed the idea again, although he said he would review President […]
Posted inThe Download
The rumor that won’t die — shelter in place
Gov. Charlie Baker on Sunday denied he was preparing to issue a 14-day shelter-in-place order, calling it “wild speculation.” On Monday, he dismissed the idea again, although he said he would review President Trump’s guidance for limiting gatherings to groups of no more than 10 people (15 less than what Baker has ordered). “The larger […]
Posted inArts and Culture
When the show does not go on
JADE SYLVAN, a graduate student at Harvard Divinity School, spent two years writing and producing a musical, “Beloved King,” a queer interpretation of the biblical story of King David. Sylvan was set to debut a semi-staged production last weekend with two sold-out performances at the Oberon, which is part of the Harvard-affiliated American Reperatory Theater […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: Boston construction grinds to halt
IN THE LATEST chapter in the near-total shutdown of the region, Mayor Marty Walsh announced that all construction projects in Boston would be halted as part of the all-out effort to prevent spread of the coronavirus among workers. “Effective tomorrow, we are suspending all regular activity on construction sites in the city of Boston,” Walsh said […]
Posted inHealth Care
A report from the frontlines at MGH
DR. JARONE LEE, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, is very worried as predictions of infection rates run as high as 60 percent worldwide. “I am a critical care doctor so I do see the sickest folks. We are very worried on the ICU side,” he said on […]
Posted inThe Download
A report from the frontlines at MGH
Dr. Jarone Lee, a physician at Massachusetts General Hospital working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic, is very worried as predictions of infection rates run as high as 60 percent worldwide. “I am a critical care doctor so I do see the sickest folks. We are very worried on the ICU side,” he said […]