BPHC Urges Caution As COVID-19 Spikes in Local Wastewater
The Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) is urging residents to take proper precautions against COVID-19 amid a significant spike in COVID-19 virus particles in local wastewater that suggests higher levels of community spread. Boston has not experienced levels this high since May.
The concentration of COVID-19 RNA copies in local wastewater rose to 1,016 copies per mL over the past week, a 104.5% increase over the past 7 days. Boston’s COVID-19 metrics have risen steadily over the past few weeks as people began to spend more time indoors and students, including college students, returned to school. Boston will likely see similarly elevated rates of COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the coming weeks, data which often lags behind wastewater.
“This spike in our wastewater concentration is of great concern and another reminder that the pandemic is far from over,” said Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission. “The key to protecting ourselves remains the same, and these tools are particularly important given this current trend: get vaccinated, get boosted, and wear masks indoors. By protecting ourselves now, we can reduce the risk of infection as we spend more time indoors in the fall and winter.”
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters are free and readily available to the public. This Saturday, BPHC is hosting a free, family-friendly COVID-19 vaccination and booster clinic at White Stadium in Franklin Park from 10am to 5pm. $75 gift cards will be given out to those ages 18 and under who get vaccinated or boosted, as well as one caregiver who accompanies them and gets vaccinated or boosted, while supplies last. Walk-ins are welcome, but pre-registration is strongly encouraged. Appointments for this Saturday’s clinic can be made by visiting bit.ly/b2svaxbos.
For additional information on COVID-19 testing and vaccination resources in Boston, go to boston.gov/covid19.
Boston Ward 1 Republican Committee
The East Boston Republican Ward Committee is holding its bimonthly meeting Tuesday evening, Oct. 11 starting at 7 p. m. The meeting will be at Kelley Square Pub, at 84 Bennington Street (at the corner of Marion Street) in East Boston.
Registered Massachusetts Republicans and unenrolled voters are welcome and encouraged to attend especially with the general election coming up soon.
For more info, please call the committee secretary at (617) 569-4075 or text (617) 755-7697. The committee e-mail addresses are [email protected] and [email protected].
National Hispanic Heritage Month
Every year, National Hispanic Heritage Month is observed from September 15th to October 15th to recognize the immense contributions that Hispanic and Latino Americans bring to our city and country and celebrate their rich cultures and histories.
According to the 2020 Census, there are over 62 million Hispanic and Latino Americans here in the United States. In Massachusetts they make up 12.8% of the state’s population, and in Boston they comprise 19.5% of the population.
Hispanic and Latino Americans contribute significantly to the City of Boston. Small businesses, laborers, teachers, police officers, restaurants and Elected Officials make up an indispensable part of our city’s workforce, keep our city and economy running, and have helped our city grow strong.
During this week’s Council meeting, the Council adopted a resolution celebrating National Hispanic Heritage Month, paying tribute to the Hispanic and Latino community in Boston.