While the coronavirus pandemic seems certain to extend its reach to all corners of the globe, its impact will not be felt evenly. Those on society’s margins and lower economic rungs will bear a much greater burden of the toll taken by COVID-19. That’s the urgent message from Dr. Sandro Galea, dean of the Boston […]
coronavirus
Posted inEconomy
An economy put in a ‘medically-induced coma’
THE ECONOMIC CONVULSIONS from the coronavirus pandemic are unlike anything we’ve ever experienced. We’re not being blindsided by an unwelcome economic downturn; we have decided to set one in motion. Michael Goodman, an economic sociologist and director of the Public Policy Center at the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth, says the best way to understand things […]
Posted inUncategorized
Poll shows Mass. residents bracing for crisis to worsen
MASSACHUSETTS RESIDENTS overwhelmingly view the coronavirus outbreak as a serious and worsening threat, with many bracing for an extended disruption of their daily lives, according to the first poll to examine how state residents are reacting to the global pandemic. Eighty-eight percent of state residents view the crisis as either a “very serious” (58 percent) or […]
Posted inUncategorized
Working from home, with kids
IN 2017, a video went viral of a little girl walking in on her dad as he tried to conduct a live interview with the BBC. How many parents had a moment like that this week? If humorous social media memes are any indication, the struggle is real for parents trying to work remotely while watching […]
Posted inThe Download
Working from home, with kids
In 2017, a video went viral of a little girl walking in on her dad as he tried to conduct a live interview with the BBC. How many parents had a moment like that this week? If humorous social media memes are any indication, the struggle is real for parents trying to work remotely while watching or entertaining […]
Posted inHealth Care
Virus notes: State, local elections being postponed
HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERS signaled that their branches plan to take action on Monday to postpone upcoming legislative and municipal elections because of the coronavirus threat. Senate President Karen Spilka and House Speaker Robert DeLeo said the two branches would pass legislation on Monday allowing municipal officials to postpone their local elections, some of which […]
Posted inHealth Care
MGH doc Jarone Lee: We’re seeing patients of all ages
Dr. Jarone Lee, a critical care physician at Massachusetts General Hospital, appeared on the Health and Consequences CommonWealth Codcast six days ago, providing a report from the front lines in the battle against COVID-19. On Thursday, he provided an update to Paul Hattis of Tufts University Medical School PAUL HATTIS: How would you describe the overall […]
Posted inHealth Care
Processing 3,500 virus tests/day target for next week
STATE OFFICIALS said Thursday that labs expect to have the ability to process 3,500 coronavirus tests a day for Massachusetts residents by early next week. “We believe over the next several days and weeks, there will be an enormous increase in the amount of testing that takes place on a daily basis here in the […]
Posted inHealth Care
The challenge of social distancing
ON TUESDAY, I TRIED to make it a point to stand at least three feet from the person in front of me at the Cambridge post office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation on “social distancing,” or the space between you and another, is that you stay be about six feet apart. While social distancing […]
Posted inHealth Care, The Download
The challenge of social distancing
On Tuesday, I tried to make it a point to stand at least three feet from the person in front of me at the Cambridge post office. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommendation on “social distancing,” or the space between you and another, is that you stay be about six feet apart. While social […]