Last week’s live updates can be found here.
Several hundred new COVID-19 cases engulf 2 Cape Cod cities (March 22)
Two Cape Cod communities are now at high risk for COVID-19 after experiencing an increase of several hundred new cases, according to WHDH.
Positivity rates at Barnstable and Yarmouth reached 7.49% and 5.88%, respectively – significantly higher than the state average of 1.95%, reports the news station.
In response, an instant test site was established in Hyannis to monitor the region for a potential third wave of infections.
“We have the city of Yarmouth, the city of Barnstable, all kinds of entities working together … and then, of course, the state sent the Fallon tests to run them on the spot,” Erika Woods, deputy director of the Barnstable County Health Department, told the WHDH.
Local authorities are now asking the state to provide more COVID-19 vaccines to the Cape.
“What we really need is a vaccine here to solve this problem,” Bruce Murphy, director of public health in Yarmouth, told the channel. “And we hope that the numbers that the state receives from surveillance tests will show us that we need vaccines to reach both communities.”
Brookline sisters, 15 and 12 years old, participate in the modern vaccine trial COVID-19 (March 22)
While thousands of Massachusetts residents make appointments and receive their COVID-19 vaccines, two of the state’s youngest residents have opened up about taking part in the Modern vaccine test for children.
Zoe Campbell, 15, and her 12-year-old sister, Esme, from Brookline, each had an injection as part of the Moderna test and will return for second doses on Tuesday, they told CNN.
“Well, honestly, I was really excited because, with the pandemic, a lot was out of my control and I’ve been looking forward to the vaccine for about a year, so being part of that process and advancing science and making the vaccine affordable for my friends and just all the kids was super exciting, ”Zoe told the news station in an interview.
Esme said she “physically felt great” after her first shot.
“My arm was sore and, a week later, I had a small rash on my skin that lasted just one day, but yes, that’s basically it,” she said.
Your parents, Drs. Lucy Chie and Justin Campbell are health professionals and are vaccinated. They said they understood the importance of the vaccine, and Chie said she was “grateful” to all the adults who participated in the initial tests.
“As doctors, we know that vaccines are one of our most important public health tools and we are very grateful to science and to all the scientists who made these vaccines possible,” said Chie. “It has been a very difficult year for everyone around the world.”
Campbell said he and his wife have worked with sick patients and have close friends and colleagues who have lost someone to the pandemic.
“This was an opportunity that we had as a family to do something, so we talked about it with the girls,” he said. “We asked them to read about it and they were excited. And there is a long history. I mean, vaccines have been around for some time and are extremely important. I remember the polio pioneers who did a tremendous service to everyone on the planet to get rid of polio, and they were also facing something from the unknown that we are, so we feel comfortable moving forward. “
Zoe said she is looking forward to returning for the second injection and, although the needles make her nervous, the nurses at the scene were kind, she said.
Esme echoed her sister’s feelings.
“I’m excited to have my second chance, even if it’s just the placebo,” she said.
See the full interview:
“With the pandemic, many things seemed to be out of my control,” said Zoe Campbell, a 15-year-old who participated in Moderna’s vaccine trial for children. “Being part of that process and advancing science and making the vaccine accessible to my friends, and just all children, was very exciting.” pic.twitter.com/tPyXtDNgDX
– CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) March 20, 2021
– Arianna MacNeill
Massachusetts comes 6th in the US for new COVID-19 cases on Sunday (March 22)
Massachusetts ranked sixth across the country in number of new COVID-19 cases reported on Sunday with 1,811.
Worldometers, which monitored several pandemic metrics by state, and the United States in general, produces a spreadsheet with analysis of general state cases, new cases, new deaths, active cases and other metrics.
The top five, in order, were New York (8,008), Florida (3,987), New Jersey (3,238), Texas (2,518) and Pennsylvania (2,065).
When it comes to new deaths reported on Sunday, Massachusetts reported 35, which was the fourth largest nationwide. The top three were California (85), Texas (55) and New Jersey (40), with South Carolina (30) in fifth place.
The gloomy metrics come when Governor Charlie Baker’s administration announced that the state would be moving on to Phase 4 of its reopening plan on Monday – indoor and outdoor stadiums, such as Fenway Park or TD Garden, will be allowed to open at 12% capacity.
Twenty-nine organizations asked Baker to postpone the reopening steps that would take effect on Monday, at least in a month. Carlene Pavlos, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, wrote the group’s letter to Baker.
“We are concerned about the possibility of a fourth wave of the pandemic at the moment when we are about to see that light that we all need at the end of the tunnel,” said Pavlos.
The state is also moving forward in its phased vaccination plan, with workers from several different sectors – food and restaurant services, grocery and transportation and transit workers – now qualified to make an appointment.
– Arianna MacNeill, with some information from the Associated Press