Massachusetts

Boston’s COVID data shows promising trends but ‘important to remain vigilant,’ Massachusetts virus cases drop 15%

January 26, 2023 by pkzadmin

Boston’s COVID numbers are continuing to show promising trends after a recent spike in cases and hospitalizations, but local health officials are reminding residents that it’s “important to remain vigilant” and get boosted.

The Boston Public Health Commission reported that daily virus cases in Boston have decreased by 23% over the past week and by 42% over the last two weeks, and new COVID hospitalizations are down by 10% and 16% during the same timeframes.

In another positive sign, the CDC moved Suffolk County back down to medium community risk last week after a short period of being at the high level.

Data from BPHC’s newly launched wastewater surveillance program shows that the number of COVID particles in the city’s wastewater decreased by 52% over the past two weeks.

“All of our metrics are currently trending in the right direction,” said Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “But it is important to remain vigilant. Nationally, hundreds of people still die from COVID daily.

“I encourage everyone to get boosted, test for COVID-19, access treatment if positive, wear masks indoors and stay home if you are sick,” Ojikutu said.

On Thursday, the state Department of Public Health reported 5,797 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 828 COVID cases from the last week was down 15% from the daily rate of 972 virus infections during the previous week.

The Bay State’s positive test average decreased last week. The seven-day positive test rate is now 9.35%, down from 10.86% last week.

The state Department of Public Health on Thursday also reported that 863 total patients are hospitalized with COVID, which is a drop of 197 patients from this time last week.

The state reported 168 new COVID deaths over the past week, bringing the state’s total to 23,594 recorded deaths since the start of the pandemic. The daily average of deaths is now 20, which has been up in recent weeks.

More than 5.6 million people in the state have been fully vaccinated, and more than 3.4 million people have received at least one booster dose. Also, the state reported that more than 1.6 million additional booster doses have been administered.

Massachusetts snow forecast: Up to 8 inches, ‘hazardous conditions’ for commute, power outages and flooding possible

January 24, 2023 by pkzadmin

It’s deja snow all over again.

Except this time, wicked heavy rain comes on the back end of the storm system.

Yet another snow event hits Massachusetts on Wednesday as flakes should start flying in the afternoon. There’s a chance that a burst of heavy snow could happen during the afternoon commute for parts of the Bay State, leading to hazardous conditions on the roads.

The Boston-area could see up to 3 inches of snow, while areas west of Interstate 495 could get up to 6 inches of snow. The Berkshires could see up to 8 inches.

“The farther north and west you go, the more snow is expected,” Andrew Loconto, meteorologist at the National Weather Service’s Boston office, told the Herald.

Then as warm air moves in from the south, the snow will change to rain during the evening. More than an inch of rain is expected through Thursday.

“All that snow should be washed away by rain in the Boston-area,” Loconto said.

The rain may cause some flooding, which could be problematic for the Boston-area during the Thursday morning commute.

Thousands of Bay State households were still in the dark on Tuesday following Monday’s winter storm, and there will yet again be a risk for power outages with this storm coming on Wednesday. Strong wind gusts could topple tree limbs and power lines.

The National Weather Service’s Boston office has issued alerts for winter weather hazards, wind-related hazards, flooding hazards and coastal hazards with this storm system.

A “Winter Weather Advisory” is in effect from Wednesday afternoon to early Thursday morning for much of Massachusetts.

“Plan on slippery road conditions,” the advisory reads. “The hazardous conditions could impact the evening commute… Slow down and use caution while traveling.”

A “Wind Advisory” is in effect from Wednesday night to Thursday morning for southeastern Massachusetts, Cape Cod and the Islands. Strong wind gusts up to 50 mph are expected.

“Gusty winds could blow around unsecured objects,” the advisory reads. “Tree limbs could be blown down and power outages may result… Use extra caution when driving, especially if operating a high profile vehicle. Secure outdoor objects.”

Also, a “Flood Watch” is in effect from Wednesday evening through Thursday morning. Forecasters warn that a period of heavy rain combined with snowmelt could spark street and poor drainage flooding, along with rises on area rivers, creeks and streams.

The advisory reads, “Those living in areas prone to flooding should be prepared to take action should flooding develop.”

A gray squirrel pauses for a pose at the Boston Common. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald)

Cape Cod bridge project cost worth looking at, Healey says it’s a priority

January 24, 2023 by pkzadmin

The governor is confident, despite twice being denied by the federal government, that funding to replace the busy bridges connecting Cape Cod with the rest of the state will come through.

“We have got to do everything we can — and I am committed as governor to doing just that — to make sure that we have those funds to fix those bridges,” Gov. Maura Healey said Tuesday.

The Bourne and Sagamore bridges, which carry 5 million visitors to Cape Cod and the Islands annually, will require major rehabilitation in the near future in order to safely continue supporting that traffic, according to a Major Rehabilitation Study done in 2019.

In January, news broke that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which built and owns the bridges, had been denied for a second time the $1.8 billion they were seeking in grant funds to help cover the estimated $4 billion design and construction cost for two new bridges.

U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch recently said that price tag was part of the reason the funding request was denied.

“I think it’s far in excess of what would be necessary,” he said on local TV. “I think it’s closer to half that amount.”

Healey, speaking after a tour of an Analog Devices facility in Wilmington, said she knows how important the bridges are to the 263,000 residents of the Cape.

“We need those bridges fixed, they are just an incredibly important part of our lifeblood here in Massachusetts,” she said. “I’m really focused on being as aggressive as we can be as a state in making sure that we’re working closely with our delegation and the U.S. Department of Transportation so that we can compete and win that funding.”

The state has already spent “considerable time, energy and funds to support replacing the bridges, including working with the Legislature to pass significant funding to replace the approaches to the bridges and authorization for Massachusetts to compete for federal grants,” according to MassDOT.

Both four lane approaches to the Cape were constructed and opened in the 1930s. In 2019, USACE determined that replacing the bridges “with two new bridges built to modern-day standards” would be more cost effective than upgrading them, providing “the best long-term investment for safe access to Cape Cod for the traveling public over the next 50 plus years,” according to USACE’s project page.

Healey said that she thinks, in the end, and despite the U.S. Army Corps’ plans twice being rejected, the project will come to fruition.

“I’ve talked to Congressman Lynch, I’ve talked to other members of the delegation, I’m very interested in looking at the numbers and looking at what’s possible and certainly want to put our best foot forward so that we’re doing everything we can to secure the federal funding and assistance that we need for an incredibly important infrastructure in this state,” she said.

‘Concerning’ gonorrhea strain detected in Massachusetts: ‘A serious public health concern’

January 19, 2023 by pkzadmin

A novel strain of gonorrhea has been detected in a Massachusetts resident, according to state health officials who called this a “serious public health concern.”

The state Department of Public Health today announced it has detected a “concerning” novel strain of gonorrhea in a resident that showed reduced response to multiple antibiotics, and another case with genetic markers that indicate a similar drug response.

This is the first time that resistance or reduced response to five classes of antibiotics has been identified in gonorrhea in the U.S.

“The discovery of this strain of gonorrhea is a serious public health concern which DPH, the CDC, and other health departments have been vigilant about detecting in the US,” said Public Health Commissioner Margret Cooke.

“We urge all sexually active people to be regularly tested for sexually transmitted infections and to consider reducing the number of their sexual partners and increasing their use of condoms when having sex,” Cooke added. “Clinicians are advised to review the clinical alert and assist with our expanded surveillance efforts.”

Both cases in Massachusetts were successfully cured with ceftriaxone, the antibiotic currently recommended to treat gonorrhea. To date, no direct connection between the two individuals has been identified.

Gonorrhea is a bacterial sexually transmitted infection. It may present without symptoms, and if left untreated, can result in pelvic inflammatory disease, infertility, and other health problems.

This strain of gonorrhea has been previously seen in Asia-Pacific countries and in the United Kingdom, but not in the U.S.

A genetic marker common to these two Massachusetts residents was also previously seen in a case in Nevada, though that strain retained sensitivity to at least one class of antibiotics. Overall, these cases are an important reminder that strains of gonorrhea in the US are becoming less responsive to a limited arsenal of antibiotics.

The Massachusetts cases were detected by DPH’s State Public Health Laboratory as part of disease surveillance activities. Field epidemiologists in DPH’s Division of Sexually Transmitted Disease Prevention are conducting contact tracing to determine if other individuals have acquired this infection.

Working with the CDC and local hospitals and health centers, DPH is expanding its testing of gonorrhea specimens for evidence of this strain in other patients.

Gonorrhea has been increasing in Massachusetts and nationally, adding to concerns about the potential spread of this strain which is more difficult to treat. In Massachusetts, laboratory-confirmed cases of gonorrhea have increased 312% since a low point of 1,976 cases in 2009 to 8,133 in 2021.

As energy bills soar through the roof, Massachusetts legislators push state to reverse rate hikes

January 18, 2023 by pkzadmin

As “outrageous” energy bills crush residents’ wallets this winter, State House legislators are urging the Department of Public Utilities to “take immediate action” about the skyrocketing utility costs and reverse the rate hikes.

Some Bay Staters’ electric bills have spiked by several hundred dollars since the winter started. State officials had warned about this significant jump months ago, predicting that the cost of heating would surge by a whopping 54.6% for electric customers and 28.6% for natural gas.

Now that the winter energy bills have landed on residents’ kitchen tables, Massachusetts lawmakers are again pleading with the Department of Public Utilities to do something about it. In a letter to DPU Chair Matthew Nelson about the energy rate increases, the legislators noted that fuel prices have dropped since DPU approved the rate increases.

“We are requesting that the DPU take immediate action to reassess the recently granted rate increases,” the State House lawmakers recently wrote to Nelson, later adding, “It is the DPU’s duty to protect our citizens from unfair and deeply damaging prices.

“Several winter months remain, and it is untenable for our residents and businesses to continue to pay these outrageous and unfair prices,” the legislators wrote.

Utility providers have largely blamed global factors such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, supply chain disruptions, and inflation for the increased energy costs.

A DPU spokesperson said the state agency is reviewing the legislators’ letter and will follow up with the representatives.

“While natural gas supply rates can change over the course of the winter period because the cost of gas is established by market prices, electricity supply rates are established by contract based on a competitive solicitation, and these prices remain fixed over the term of the contract,” the DPU spokesperson said in a statement.

Those contracts are in place for six months.

In preparation for the winter season, DPU met with utility companies and told them to promote and allow residential customers to enroll in budget billing programs, guide customers who have difficulty paying their bills toward appropriate assistance programs, along with other steps.

Since September, some 60,000 National Grid customers have enrolled in its discount program, allowing eligible customers to save 25% to 32% on their utility bills. An additional 12,000 customers have signed up for bill management programs.

“We’re working with our customers to help them reduce their energy use and save money, sign up for payment plans and various billing options and discount rates, and secure all available energy assistance,” a National Grid spokesperson said.

Eversource also has assistance programs for customers.

“We know how challenging increased energy costs are for our customers who are already frustrated with rising prices for other basic, daily needs,” an Eversource spokesperson said. “While we have no control over the cost of energy, we’re here to work with our customers one-on-one on ways to reduce their energy usage and connect them with assistance programs, flexible payment plans or other resources to help them manage their monthly bill.”

Mass. hate group leader subject of N.H. civil rights complaint

January 17, 2023 by pkzadmin

PORTSMOUTH, N.H. — Christopher Hood, the leader of a New England neo-Nazi organization formerly of Pepperell, Mass., is the subject of a civil rights complaint by the New Hampshire attorney general.

In the complaint announced Tuesday, New Hampshire Attorney General John Formella and Portsmouth Police Chief Mark Newport said they were initiating an enforcement action against Hood, now of Newburyport, Mass., and Leo Anthony Cullinan, of Manchester N.H., as well as the hate group NSC-131, for violating and conspiring to violate the New Hampshire Civil Rights Act.

Formella and Newport allege that on July 30, Hood led a group of NSC-131 members, including Cullinan, in hanging banners that read “Keep New England White” from an overpass overlooking U.S. Route 1 in Portsmouth.

“This trespass violated the Civil Rights Act because it was motivated by race and interfered with the lawful activities of others. The slogan on the banners, ‘Keep New England White,’ was plainly motivated by race,” Formella’s complaint against Hood states. “The only reasonable interpretation is that the slogan and group’s intention was to discourage people of color from residing in or visiting and making them feel unwelcome and unsafe in the New England region, New Hampshire, and Portsmouth. Thus, the defendant, through this trespass, intended to interfere with the lawful activities of those traveling along Route 1 by discouraging them from exercising their right to travel freely through the Granite State.”

According to documentation provided by Formella’s office, four Portsmouth Police officers responded to complaints about the sign on July 30 and found about 10 men “gathered on the overpass wearing hats, sunglasses, and face coverings emblazoned with ‘NSC-131 or ‘131.’” Only Hood had his face uncovered.

None of those wearing masks would identify themselves or speak with the officers, but Hood stepped forward to speak with them and provided spoken and gestured instructions to the group, making it clear he was their leader, the complaint states.

After two of the officers informed Hood the group could not hang banners from the overpass without a permit because it violates a city ordinance, Hood instructed the group members to remove the zip-tied banners from the fence, but some continued to hold the banners up by hand before returning to their vehicles and leaving, according to the complaint.

During the approximately 20-25 minute interaction with Hood, Cullinan reportedly drove up to one of the officers in a pickup truck and angrily said, “You’re not interfering with my friends and interfering with our rights.” Cullinan then transported Hood and other participants from the scene, according to the complaint.

For Hood’s conspiracy charge, Formella cited the planning and coordination required to execute the group’s actions.

“He coordinated with at least 10 other individuals to travel to the Portsmouth overpass in three vehicles, produce the banners, acquire equipment to attempt to conceal the identities of those who participated in displaying the banners, and hang the banners from the overpass,” the complaint states. “This incident was not mere coincidence or happenstance.”

According to the complaint, NSC-131 is an unincorporated association with members in multiple New England states and that at least 10 members of the group participated in violating the Civil Rights Act. As an unincorporated association, officials said it can be held liable for violating the Civil Rights Act.

NSC is short for Nationalist Social Club, and 131 is the alphanumeric code for anti-communist action. The hate group participated in the Jan. 6 Capitol riots, something Hood, its founder, has bragged about.

According to the Anti-Defamation League, “NSC members consider themselves soldiers fighting a war against a hostile, Jewish-controlled system that is deliberately plotting the extinction of the white race. Their goal is to form an underground network of white men who are willing to fight against their perceived enemies through localized direct actions.”

Officials said there is a maximum civil penalty of $5,000 for each violation. According to the complaints, Formella is seeking $10,000 in penalties for Hood and $5,000 for Cullinan. Additionally, violations of the Civil Rights Act can empower the court to restrain the defendants from committing future violations and other hate-motivated conduct for three years.

However, it will be on the Civil Rights Unit to prove fault at a final hearing.

Massachusetts

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