The Hopkinton School Committee has voted to lift the mask mandate for Hopkinton High due to a vaccination rate of 98% (well above the state minimum 80% vaccination rate). Those few who are unvaccinated will still have to wear masks.
It is the first and only school in the entire state to drop the mask mandate. Masks may return after Thanksgiving break?
The pandemic’s epicenter is once again parts of Europe, though clearly not all of Europe is involved (for example, thus far, the Nordic countries are doing fine; almost in post-pandemic mode).
Hard lockdowns return to parts of Eastern Europe, where numbers – cases, hospitalizations, deaths – are in rapid ascent.
My guess is the UK will institute “Plan B” within a few weeks. This is not a lockdown. But, the government would reinstitute mask mandates everywhere as well as 6 foot distancing, advice for those who can stay home to work to do so, hybrid education where necessary, and crowd limits in indoor spaces.
Today, the Netherlands saw its biggest increase in hospitalizations in 8 months.
What we need to pay attention to is this: In Europe, the case increases aren’t quite as large as the hospitalization increases. This suggests the possibility that the AY. sub-variants may be more virulent. No proof yet. But it’s something to keep an eye on.
I read that it was suspected of being more virulent, but more data was needed. I fear it is. What else is new?
And we continue to life mask mandates. I’m so tired of people arguing that it is a personal choice. My good heavens we are headed for something I don’t want to think about
Agree and sadly MOST do NOT seeing coming or if they do, they IGNORE the warning signs.
I think the 10-15% estimate is an underestimate regarding added transmissibility risk. Why do I say this? Just looking at the raw numbers in the UK, Netherlands, and elsewhere. Speed with which the AY. sub-lineages outcompete their `parent’ B.1.617.2 is another indication. Virulence is another matter. We don’t know yet whether the AY. sub-lineages are more virulent. But, again, raw numbers suggest they might be. I’m tracking hospitalizations in the Netherlands. During the last 14 days there’s been almost a doubling of hospitalizations. Netherlands is better vaccinated than the UK and much better vaccinated than the US (especially if we exclude the <18 group).
Thank you Joshua. Very worrisome.
I find it interesting that Hopkinton High School is the only indoor location in the entire state that a fully vaccinated person can go back in time to the year 2019.
Monday was when people in state jobs were supposed to be vaccinated.
One person here put in for a religious exemption, two didn’t even put in an attestation or request for exemption. I’m sure there are more people like them on my floor but you only find out through word of mouth. The state said last week “if we don’t contact you before monday, please still show up to work as normal.” Goal posts pushed. None of these three individuals have been spoken to this week one way or the other. Interesting. Perhaps quietly not going to enforce the mandate?
Don’t bother. I think I know where you’re going with this. Mask up! 🙁
I had envisioned that once vaccinations began, mask mandates would be a thing of the past, at least for those vaccinated. Oh well.
No it was more than that. We did a really good job of keeping the providence spread from becoming a super spreader. Masks and other proper steps were a contributing reason
Provincetown?
Had my first shingles vaccine this am. $89. Will see if I react Pharmacist said that was less than other prices she’d seen.
She also said they do not have the instructions as of yet for giving Moderna third vaccine. She thought they might on Monday. I wont get it this close to shingles.
Good for you Vicki that you got your shingles shot. My insurance paid mine. I’m not quite “there” yet, but doesn’t Medicare pay for vaccines? You are wise to wait a bit between different shots, at least a week or two. 🙂
Apparently, Medicare doesn’t pay for high dose vaccines. But my prescription part D does. I have express scripts.
I agree with you on spacing between vaccines. When my kids were young, we had an exceptional pediatrician. When he retired, his replacement was head of pediatrics at MGH. They were both adamant about not combining vaccines. Now, it seems to be the norm for kids’ vaccines. Another thing I don’t get
Mine was 2 doses a few months apart. No reaction whatsoever.
Nice. I’m hoping to not have a reaction also. I have 2-6 months for second. I have friends who have not reacted and some who have. We shall see. The pharmacist said until the covid vaccines, it was known as the shot that has the strongest reactions for some.
My brother in law told me the Bay Area is very low for covid. The folks, at least in law enforcement and fire, who did not comply are on unpaid leave until December 1. They can then decide if they want to return to work or leave.
It will be curious to see what Baker does
The population of the Bay Area…which I didn’t know…is not far below the population of Massachusetts
C-19 for 10-23 is ready.
Comments are closed.
Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
Thanks TK!
The Hopkinton School Committee has voted to lift the mask mandate for Hopkinton High due to a vaccination rate of 98% (well above the state minimum 80% vaccination rate). Those few who are unvaccinated will still have to wear masks.
It is the first and only school in the entire state to drop the mask mandate. Masks may return after Thanksgiving break?
The pandemic’s epicenter is once again parts of Europe, though clearly not all of Europe is involved (for example, thus far, the Nordic countries are doing fine; almost in post-pandemic mode).
Hard lockdowns return to parts of Eastern Europe, where numbers – cases, hospitalizations, deaths – are in rapid ascent.
My guess is the UK will institute “Plan B” within a few weeks. This is not a lockdown. But, the government would reinstitute mask mandates everywhere as well as 6 foot distancing, advice for those who can stay home to work to do so, hybrid education where necessary, and crowd limits in indoor spaces.
Today, the Netherlands saw its biggest increase in hospitalizations in 8 months.
What we need to pay attention to is this: In Europe, the case increases aren’t quite as large as the hospitalization increases. This suggests the possibility that the AY. sub-variants may be more virulent. No proof yet. But it’s something to keep an eye on.
I read that it was suspected of being more virulent, but more data was needed. I fear it is. What else is new?
And we continue to life mask mandates. I’m so tired of people arguing that it is a personal choice. My good heavens we are headed for something I don’t want to think about
Agree and sadly MOST do NOT seeing coming or if they do, they IGNORE the warning signs.
Sadly true
https://www.newsweek.com/delta-ay4-2-covid-variant-how-worried-concerned-should-we-transmissible-1641191
I think the 10-15% estimate is an underestimate regarding added transmissibility risk. Why do I say this? Just looking at the raw numbers in the UK, Netherlands, and elsewhere. Speed with which the AY. sub-lineages outcompete their `parent’ B.1.617.2 is another indication. Virulence is another matter. We don’t know yet whether the AY. sub-lineages are more virulent. But, again, raw numbers suggest they might be. I’m tracking hospitalizations in the Netherlands. During the last 14 days there’s been almost a doubling of hospitalizations. Netherlands is better vaccinated than the UK and much better vaccinated than the US (especially if we exclude the <18 group).
Thank you Joshua. Very worrisome.
I find it interesting that Hopkinton High School is the only indoor location in the entire state that a fully vaccinated person can go back in time to the year 2019.
Monday was when people in state jobs were supposed to be vaccinated.
One person here put in for a religious exemption, two didn’t even put in an attestation or request for exemption. I’m sure there are more people like them on my floor but you only find out through word of mouth. The state said last week “if we don’t contact you before monday, please still show up to work as normal.” Goal posts pushed. None of these three individuals have been spoken to this week one way or the other. Interesting. Perhaps quietly not going to enforce the mandate?
Sure enough: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/no-timeline-from-gov-baker-on-covid-vaccine-mandate-discipline/2524700/
They have had plenty of time. FIRE THEM!!!
Kudos to our state health professionals. But let’s keep believing masks are not a crucial part of the solution
https://www.bostonglobe.com/2021/10/21/metro/new-study-reveals-why-provincetown-did-not-become-covid-superspreader/?s_campaign=breakingnews:newsletter
Philip, I’ll see if I can find this elsewhere.
Don’t bother. I think I know where you’re going with this. Mask up! 🙁
I had envisioned that once vaccinations began, mask mandates would be a thing of the past, at least for those vaccinated. Oh well.
No it was more than that. We did a really good job of keeping the providence spread from becoming a super spreader. Masks and other proper steps were a contributing reason
Provincetown?
Had my first shingles vaccine this am. $89. Will see if I react Pharmacist said that was less than other prices she’d seen.
She also said they do not have the instructions as of yet for giving Moderna third vaccine. She thought they might on Monday. I wont get it this close to shingles.
Good for you Vicki that you got your shingles shot. My insurance paid mine. I’m not quite “there” yet, but doesn’t Medicare pay for vaccines? You are wise to wait a bit between different shots, at least a week or two. 🙂
Apparently, Medicare doesn’t pay for high dose vaccines. But my prescription part D does. I have express scripts.
I agree with you on spacing between vaccines. When my kids were young, we had an exceptional pediatrician. When he retired, his replacement was head of pediatrics at MGH. They were both adamant about not combining vaccines. Now, it seems to be the norm for kids’ vaccines. Another thing I don’t get
Mine was 2 doses a few months apart. No reaction whatsoever.
Nice. I’m hoping to not have a reaction also. I have 2-6 months for second. I have friends who have not reacted and some who have. We shall see. The pharmacist said until the covid vaccines, it was known as the shot that has the strongest reactions for some.
UK has formally declared AY.4.2 a “variant under investigation.” https://twitter.com/BNODesk/status/1451541753635483648
My brother in law told me the Bay Area is very low for covid. The folks, at least in law enforcement and fire, who did not comply are on unpaid leave until December 1. They can then decide if they want to return to work or leave.
It will be curious to see what Baker does
The population of the Bay Area…which I didn’t know…is not far below the population of Massachusetts
C-19 for 10-23 is ready.