Video Update for April 29
This is Melrose Mayor Paul Brodeur.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health weekly city and town case report issued today indicates Melrose has had a total of 157 cases of COVID-19 snice January 1. The number of patients currently hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts has remained somewhat steady for the past two weeks or so, fluctuating between 3,600 and slightly under 4,000. Today, there are 3,856 patients hospitalized in Massachusetts, 1,011 of which are in intensive care units. Hospital bed availability remains good locally and across the Commonwealth. Total deaths statewide are at 3,405 with 1,982 of those taking place in long-term care facilities. Unfortunately, DPH also reports 252 newly reported deaths today, which is the highest single day total since the outbreak began. Please refer to the DPH website for a comprehensive report of COVID-19 related statistics.
And I will again remind everyone: Please do not hesitate to seek medical help if you are experiencing a medical emergency. If you are having mild or moderate symptoms consistent with the coronavirus, please call your doctor or the state 211 line that is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week. But if you are having a medical emergency of any kind, including difficulty breathing, chest pains, or signs of stroke, please call 9-1-1 immediately. That also applies to anyone who feels threatened by violence in the home, or is aware of abuse going on.
And I want to share some good news about some of our students at Melrose High School. Today is Kick Butts Day. Kick Butts Day is usually a rally and lobbying day at the State House dedicated to ending teen use of nicotine-related products like cigarettes, vapes, and chewing tobacco. Our Melrose Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition Youth Action Team is a leading group of The 84 Movement. The 84 represents the 84% of Massachusetts youth who did NOT smoke when the movement began. Now, 93.4% of youth do NOT smoke. Today, the Melrose Chapter, led by MHS students and ably supported by Bob Savarino, were recognized as finalists for the Peer Outreach Award. Both Rep. Lipper-Garabedian and I were virtually on-hand for the awards ceremony, and we are incredibly proud of the work our students to help their peers avoid nicotine addiction. As we all know, smoking causes lung cancer and other lung disease and costs us billions every year. And as we have been reminded so dramatically during this pandemic, lung disease makes people much more susceptible to viruses and other health problems. Thank you to these students for taking on this important leadership role in our community.
Let’s honor that leadership by continuing to follow the good public health practices that help protect the entire community during the pandemic: Stay home and avoid contact with others; respect the recommended curfew from 9pm to 6am; wear a face covering whenever you leave home, and especially in stores and similar locations; stay at least six feet from other people at all times; wash your hands and clean and sanitize surfaces frequently.
Thanks again to our student action team leaders and to all of you for caring for yourselves and each other. Together, we will get through this.