Checking in on the state of the pandemic, 2 years after Mass. emergency declaration

Thursday marks the two-year anniversary of when Gov. Charlie Baker declared Massachusetts under a state of emergency due to COVID-19.

At the time, there were 92 known or presumptive cases in the state. Baker eliminated non-essential travel by state workers, called for state employees to work remotely and urged private companies to do the same.

Now, two years later, communities across the state are loosening mask mandates, lifting capacity limits and easing restrictions.

WBUR’s Morning Edition host Rupa Shenoy checked in on the state of the pandemic with infectious disease specialist Dr. David Hamer, professor of global health and medicine at Boston University.

Interview Highlights

On the pandemic over the past few years

It’s been a roller coaster ride. Back when Gov. Baker made the announcement two years ago, we knew so little about this virus and about how it was spread. And I think over time, we’ve learned a lot of lessons about what can be done safely using prevention measures.

If you look at the numbers … the total number of new cases, hospitalizations — everything has been going down very quickly over the last month. I think there still is some transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in the community, but it’s at much lower levels and the risk is gradually subsiding.