Another ominous coronavirus sign: Massachusetts cases reach 5-month high
Original article from The Boston Globe, 2020
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts jumped by 986 Thursday — the highest count of new cases in nearly five months — as more than 20 percent of the state’s cities and towns were designated high-risk for the virus.
Thursday’s new confirmed cases, which reached the highest daily mark since May 24, brought the statewide total to 143,927, while the death toll rose by 30 to 9,589, the state Department of Public Health reported.
In recent days, the state has seen an increase in cases after appearing to get the virus under control this summer. Governor Charlie Baker has recently acknowledged cases are rising but has said the state is prepared for it.
“It’s the trend that we’ve been worried about,” Dr. Nahid R. Bhadelia, medical director of the Special Pathogens Unit at Boston Medical Center, said of the growing number of cases.
Bhadelia said the increase in infections was likely caused by a combination of factors, including the state’s gradual reopening, the return of students to some college campuses, cooler weather driving people inside, and pandemic fatigue from months of sacrifices.
“These numbers signal that we need to consider whether we need to roll back some parts of reopening, including things like indoor dining and other aspects that we know carry greater risks,” she said. “Because there’s going to be a trade-off between those types of activities versus continuing schools.”