On Thursday, Gov. Charlie Baker said his administration is prepared to dial back its reopening plan if coronavirus continues to move in the wrong direction. Massachusetts is currently into phase 3 of reopening. This phase includes opening business such as casinos, gyms, movie theaters and museums. Phase 3 will last significantly longer because as Baker said, “Phase 3 contains some bigger players that will certainly draw more people into indoor settings,” noting that medical evidence has shown that coronavirus has “a much higher risk of spreading indoors in enclosed spaces than it does in outdoor spaces.” This announcement comes as coronavirus cases in Massachusetts has experienced several days of steady increases with positive test rates ticking in the wrong direction since mid-July. As of Wednesday, the active number of coronavirus cases rose nearly 25% over the last week.
Physicians have a similar concern.
In a meeting with the editorial board on Wednesday, Baystate President and CEO Dr. Mark A. Keroack said, “It worries me a lot that we might be starting to see a resurgence of cases in our area. Which is quite alarming.” And Dr. David Rosman, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society said, “Either (1), Phase 3 is too liberal or (2) people aren’t doing what they should.”
Reporting close to 4,000 cases June 1 to just around 100 on June 31 shows, during this time, the citizenry was following the rules. Massachusetts showed the country what needed to be done. Stay shut down until the so-called curve of infections diminished, followed by a slow and methodical reopening. The common theme throughout out multi-month battle with cornonavirus is that public actions are the drivers of coronavirus levels.
It is up to us. We drove the numbers down in June. And we are slowly driving them back up.
If the citizenry can comply with simple actions, washing hands, social distancing, wearing masks, we can alter the spread. Getting the number of infections down in the month of June was a result of the public complying these simple actions.
Dr. Keroack said it’s becoming clear that some are not keeping up with the routines that brought down coronavirus numbers in June.
“It’s really hard for people to pay attention and commit month after month for something that is a pain in the neck.”
Keroack’s comments are understandable. But if we can’t remain strong and keep applying common sense, we will, like other states, head in the wrong direction. Which means more social and economic hardship -- and more deaths.
Related:
- ‘Please help correct this’: Hundreds of complaints poured into Massachusetts’ new COVID-19 business reporting line in the first week
- Dr. Anthony Fauci disagrees with President Donald Trump’s coronavirus vaccine timeline, says results from trials likely to come after election
- UMass Amherst walks back fall reopening plans; most students will not be allowed to live on campus