Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Springfield, New Bedford: redevelopment, nonprofit, hotels)

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by mdovell

When it comes down to it we have the reopenings by the same point many of the international borders are not fully open. So as a result you got people that are staying more closer to home and that's jacking up prices and everything else. I still can't believe the Canadian border is an open and probably won't for at least the end of the summer. This of course also affects immigration going to Boston because if they can't come here they're not going to spend as much for money here.

Meanwhile the government is pumping in money and yet our interest rates really aren't that high so I'm betting we're going to have to have some form of inflation soon.

If the feds can pass an infrastructure bill that should help alleviate some of these concerns.

There are a number of reasons to think inflation is coming, including those you mentioned, as well as a big increase in shipping costs, material and component costs for goods from overseas due to a range of supply chain influences, which figure into many end-products in this global economy.

[msRB311]

I read an article in the NYT over the weekend that the price of food is really going up as well.

[BostonMike7]

Mass has rolled out a lottery for those who have been vaccinated.

https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-vaxmillions-giveaway

[yesmaybe]

Originally Posted by BostonMike7

Mass has rolled out a lottery for those who have been vaccinated.

https://www.mass.gov/massachusetts-vaxmillions-giveaway

Seems unnecessary. I think we got enough people in MA to take it.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by yesmaybe

Seems unnecessary. I think we got enough people in MA to take it.

I think we had stalled out below where we want to be. I hope this, plus an eventual approval for those under 12, gets us where we need to be.

[GeoffD]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

I think we had stalled out below where we want to be. I hope this, plus an eventual approval for those under 12, gets us where we need to be.

There’s something of a “the world ends at 495” thing going on. Springfield and New Bedford/Fall River have lousy vaccination rates.

[jayrandom]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

There’s something of a “the world ends at 495” thing going on. Springfield and New Bedford/Fall River have lousy vaccination rates.

This has probably been shared in this thread, but is probably worth re-sharing:

https://www.boston.com/news/coronavi...ination-rates/

It's amazing that Newton has 99+% of its over 30 vaccinated before the end of June. 99% of anything is remarkable. Biden/Harris didn't even get 90% of the vote in Newton.

[htfdcolt]

Originally Posted by jayrandom

This has probably been shared in this thread, but is probably worth re-sharing:

https://www.boston.com/news/coronavi...ination-rates/

It's amazing that Newton has 99+% of its over 30 vaccinated before the end of June. 99% of anything is remarkable. Biden/Harris didn't even get 90% of the vote in Newton.

Wow! I guess I should plan for my first foray into indoor dining to be in Newton!

Hate to say this, but more so than political leanings, isn't education level the main correlating variable here? (at least in MA)

[msRB311]

OH yes, anyone with an advanced degree got vaccinated.

[Shrewsburried]

Originally Posted by GeoffD

There’s something of a “the world ends at 495” thing going on. Springfield and New Bedford/Fall River have lousy vaccination rates.

Perhaps 'education ends' or other differences within certain demographics. It's the demographics of these cities. Hispanics and, to a lesser degree, blacks are lagging white and Asian populations. https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covi...ace-ethnicity/

Vaccinations percentage by race: 69% of Asian residents 65% white residents, 50% of black residents, and 45% of Hispanic residents.

Minorities within MA were a higher percentage of 'font line workers' during the pandemic so perhaps this has, to some degree, attributed to the lower vaccination rates. Either because these individuals are already carrying antibodies via natural infection or figure they've made through the peak of the pandemic without verified exposure and don't see much value in seeking protection at this point. Who knows.

Anecdotally, few of my educated peers had Covid aside from those working onsite healthcare or cohabiting with older less vigilant children. However, Covid infections amongst my 'blue collar' peers were rampant, either because of elevated exposure risks due to their job or because they simply adhered to the 'Wu flu' mantra took little to no precautions. Based on these observations, I think perceived risk was the biggest driver and education plays a roll in one's ability to assess risk.