Coronavirus in Massachusetts (homes, live, vacation)

[BostonMike7]

Originally Posted by msRB311

What is making the numbers go down so much? People just being more vigilant? I feel like people are getting 'looser'. My son was invited to a bday party this week. ugh. Not ready for that.

Can only speculate, but lack of major holidays and family gatherings? Higher number of cases means more people have developed immunity? Vaccine rollout and impact on immunity?

It was only a matter of time for the cases to start dropping. Deaths will follow in a few weeks, but hopefully this is the beginning of the end. I'd really like to have a normal summer.

[bohemka]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Can only speculate, but lack of major holidays and family gatherings? Higher number of cases means more people have developed immunity? Vaccine rollout and impact on immunity?

It was only a matter of time for the cases to start dropping. Deaths will follow in a few weeks, but hopefully this is the beginning of the end. I'd really like to have a normal summer.

Yeah, all of this. Our town's website that tracks COVID cases spells it out very clearly. A peak in mid-April and then next to nothing, and then a massive spike after Thanksgiving and an even higher one after Christmas. We've just dropped down to pre-Thanksgiving cases.

So it turns out you weren't supposed to commingle households indoors without masks. Who knew? Add in more cases and subsequent immunity, the vaccine trickling out, etc., and there may finally be light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is still months away.

[msRB311]

Yes I'm hoping for a more normal summer as well. I have a feeling it will be given that so much can be done outdoors

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by bohemka

Yeah, all of this. Our town's website that tracks COVID cases spells it out very clearly. A peak in mid-April and then next to nothing, and then a massive spike after Thanksgiving and an even higher one after Christmas. We've just dropped down to pre-Thanksgiving cases.

So it turns out you weren't supposed to commingle households indoors without masks. Who knew? Add in more cases and subsequent immunity, the vaccine trickling out, etc., and there may finally be light at the end of the tunnel, even if it is still months away.

I hope you had tongue firmly in cheek on the above comment?

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by bohemka

Yeah, all of this. Our town's website that tracks COVID cases spells it out very clearly. A peak in mid-April and then next to nothing, and then a massive spike after Thanksgiving and an even higher one after Christmas. We've just dropped down to pre-Thanksgiving cases.

I don't have any numbers about Logan but I believe that air passengers was something high like 80% of 2019 around Christmas.

As for why cases are going down I would only say that I would downplay the vaccine because of MA's refusal to vaccinate any general population until now.

[bohemka]

Originally Posted by htfdcolt

I hope you had tongue firmly in cheek on the above comment?

I sure did.

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

I don't have any numbers about Logan but I believe that air passengers was something high like 80% of 2019 around Christmas.

As for why cases are going down I would only say that I would downplay the vaccine because of MA's refusal to vaccinate any general population until now.

True for now, but as things ramp up, it'll hopefully play a big part. I have a number of friends who work in healthcare, so many people I'd normally interact with have already been vaccinated. But yes, a very, very small percentage in general have been vaccinated.

For what it's worth, my dad is 79 and has cancer, and he's been unable to get the vaccine in Florida despite a lot of effort.

[cb2008]

Originally Posted by cb2008

My husband’s doctor’s office called this morning to set up an appointment for him, 75+. We are planning that I will go with him and if they can, as in doses going unused, they will get the vaccine into my arm as well. The office told him they are quite well stocked. We’ll see how that goes.

Update 2. Doctor’s office canceled. Vaccines did not arrive as expected. He still has an appointment thru Mass.gov at a later date.

[BostonMike7]

I wonder if the weather plays a role as well into the region's drop in Cases.

We've had a few snow events in a row the last couple weeks (with more on the way). I wonder if that would drive people to remain indoors in isolation as the weather moves through. Figure 1 week away from others would be enough time for symptoms to show (prompting testing and isolation) or for those with minor symptoms to remain away from others long enough to move past being contagious?

[rach5]

I expect another wave, unfortunately - as the more contagious variants take over, just as governments/people are relaxing restrictions. Also worried about Super Bowl Sunday. Not sure if our current speed of vaccinations will prevent this.

[msRB311]

Oh right...curious to see what happens with Superbowl sunday. Damn Brady had to go to another superbowl so people are here are definitely interesting in watching.