Boston, MA
Boston-area COVID wastewater data drops: A ‘very positive change’ as virus cases decline 21%
The carefully watched Boston-area COVID wastewater tracker has revealed a “very optimistic change” in latest days as virus sewage information began to take a downward flip.
In the meantime, state well being officers on Tuesday reported 2,693 new COVID instances, one other drop in infections whereas virus hospitalizations ticked up.
The predictive wastewater tracker had lately proven a spike again to excessive January ranges because the omicron BA.2 variant, together with a subvariant recognized as BA.2.12.1, unfold throughout the area. However within the final week, the south-of-Boston COVID wastewater common has dropped 31%, and the north-of-Boston common has gone down 19%.
The wastewater downturn “may very well be the start of the top” of this spring wave if this development continues, stated Davidson Hamer, a Boston College College of Public Well being infectious ailments specialist.
“I see this as a really optimistic change particularly because it additionally seems just like the variety of confirmed and reported COVID-19 instances has decreased in the previous couple of days,” he added. “So long as there is no such thing as a post-commencement surge in instances given all of the latest commencement actions throughout the state, we may have this small wave step by step subside and have a comparatively worry-free June forward.”
Matthew Fox, a Boston College College of Public Well being epidemiology professor, known as the wastewater drop a “optimistic signal and never a really stunning one.”
“Omicron may be very intense so waves are usually shorter and bigger, however we had a sense this one could be shorter and a much less intense wave than earlier ones due to the constructed up immunity,” Fox stated. “We don’t know for positive that the wave will begin to finish quickly however the wastewater information has been fairly dependable up to now, so I’m optimistic.”
In Tuesday’s COVID report, the state Division of Public Well being reported 2,693 COVID instances, a 21% lower from 3,425 infections recorded final Tuesday.
The state’s common % positivity is now 8.58%, down from the speed of 9.12% final week.
State well being officers reported 33 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s complete recorded loss of life toll to twenty,533. The 33 new deaths are from Saturday via Monday. The day by day common of COVID deaths is now eight. The loss of life fee had been a lot greater after omicron hospitalizations surged.
After COVID hospitalizations ticked up by 28 sufferers, the state’s general affected person depend is now 835 sufferers. Hospitalizations have been rising after a number of weeks of elevated instances.
There are actually 79 coronavirus sufferers in intensive care models, and 39 sufferers are intubated throughout the state.
Within the state’s weekly breakthrough report, the state reported 16,791 breakthrough infections final week — an 11% lower from the 18,820 totally vaccinated instances within the prior report.
There was a one-week enhance of 201 totally vaxxed sufferers, down from the earlier weekly enhance of 241 totally vaxxed sufferers. The state additionally reported a one-week enhance of 49 deaths, just like the 47 deaths within the earlier week.
No two trials are the same — and it appears that’ll be true for the high-profile Karen Read case as well.
Prosecutors have been working to keep several defense witnesses off the stand in the upcoming retrial over the killing of her boyfriend, Boston Police Officer John O’Keefe.
“It’s not surprising to me to at all that, with new lawyers on the case and fresh looks at the evidence, that they’re making a determination as to which pieces of evidence they think they have real chance of excluding,” NBC10 Boston legal analyst Michael Coyne said.
The witnesses whom the prosecution moved to exclude from the case are a doctor whose expertise includes dog bites, a forensic expert who challenged the now infamous Google search, “hos long to die in the snow,” as well as two accident reconstruction experts whose testimony under cut the state’s version of how O’Keefe died.
Prosecutors in the Karen Read trial spent the day in court trying to discredit the expertise of the defense’s dog bite expert, Dr. Marie Russell, so she can’t testify in the retrial.
Follow NBC10 Boston:
https://instagram.com/nbc10boston
https://tiktok.com/@nbc10boston
https://facebook.com/NBC10Boston
Tweets by NBC10Boston
Judge Beverly Cannone will decide if the witnesses testify. She allowed them at the first trial and Coyne said it could create problems if she says no for the next trial.
“It does put her in a difficult point to be able to now reverse herself, and I don’t think that’s likely to happen,” he said.
Special Assistant District Attorney Hank Brennan is now leading the state’s case, and he plans to cut down the number of witnesses while bringing a different style than the original lead prosecutor, Adam Lally.
“Hank’s approach is like an everyman’s approach,” said Coyne, who knows the experienced defense lawyer. “He’s understated. He’s very quick on his feet. I think he’ll be well received by the jury.”
Read’s team remains intact, but she said Tuesday outside one of the witness hearings that they’re taking a second look, too.
“We’re going to re-tool everything. Maybe something will stay similar but we’re gonna shuffle a lot of things around,” she said.
Much of this preparation could be moot if the state’s Supreme Judicial Court decides to throw out two of the charges against Read.
The Norfolk County District Attorney’s Office says one of Karen Read’s key arguments has been “debunked” in a legal filing seeking to prevent testimony from a defense witness in the upcoming retrial.
BOSTON – It’s a peculiar sight in downtown Boston: Giant pink people peering into restaurant windows and hanging out in alleyways.
These sculptures that are making their debut in the United States are called “Monsieur Rose” or “Mr. Pink” in English. It’s a new art installation designed to catch your attention and lift your spirits.
“These characters transform the streets into playful places and our daily travels into delightful, colorful journeys,” a website for the exhibit says.
“Cute-ism” art
Their collective name in French roughly translates to “cute-ism” from artist Philippe Katerine. The inflatable sculptures are part of this year’s Winteractive art walk.
Winteractive is the same event that brought floating clown heads to the city last year. The Downtown Boston Alliance says the reaction encouraged them to up the ante this year.
Changing people’s days
Michael Nichols with the Downtown Boston Alliance says the organization is exploring “different ways of using our downtown to have fun.”
“It is the darkest, drabbest time of year in Boston. It’s gray … just cold and bitter,” he said. “And pops of pink color, bubblegum pink dotting the downtown in now six different locations is changing people’s day.”
Mr. Pink is only the beginning of the experience – new installations will be added to the collection every day for the next week. On Thursday morning there was another eye-catching sight: A display that appeared to show a satellite or small spacecraft that had crashed onto the hood of a car.
Boston, MA
ICE blasts Boston: Feds say BPD refused 198 immigration detainer requests for ‘egregious crime’ in 2024, not 15
Federal authorities said the Boston Police Department refused to act on 198 immigration detainer requests last year, far exceeding the 15 reported by BPD’s commissioner, while blasting the city for jeopardizing “public safety and national security.”
Hochul Seeks to Limit Private-Equity Ownership of Homes in New York
Wealthy L.A. investor blasted for seeking paid firefighters: ‘Will pay any amount’
Detroit Tigers avoid arbitration with all nine eligible players for $26.76 million in 2025
Pacific Palisades inferno forces thousands to flee California homes; Gov. Newsom declares state of emergency
Daniel Lurie wants to pause city hiring — with some caveats
Colorado Rockies game no. 116 thread: Zac Gallen vs José Ureña
Why Marjorie Taylor Greene was ‘kicked out’ of the Freedom Caucus according to Rep. Buck
See it: Tesla crashes into Columbus convention center at 70 mph
Fox News Politics: Georgia the whole day through
Death of missing Oregon girl found in stream ruled homicide
Elon Musk Downplays the Role of Climate in L.A. Fires, Scientists Say
Did moderate Democrats get religion with embrace of Laken Riley Act?
Ramstein: Germany pledges tanks, missiles, and air defence for Ukraine
Photos: See the California wildfires' destructive force, in satellite images
The 39th president will be buried later at his Georgia home. Here’s the latest.
-
Business1 week agoThese are the top 7 issues facing the struggling restaurant industry in 2025
-
Culture1 week agoThe 25 worst losses in college football history, including Baylor’s 2024 entry at Colorado
-
Sports1 week agoThe top out-of-contract players available as free transfers: Kimmich, De Bruyne, Van Dijk…
-
Politics1 week agoNew Orleans attacker had 'remote detonator' for explosives in French Quarter, Biden says
-
Politics7 days agoCarter's judicial picks reshaped the federal bench across the country
-
Politics5 days agoWho Are the Recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom?
-
Health4 days agoOzempic ‘microdosing’ is the new weight-loss trend: Should you try it?
-
World1 week agoIvory Coast says French troops to leave country after decades