After more than three years, COVID public health emergencies at the federal level and in Massachusetts come to an end Thursday. Here's what will change with testing, masking, vaccination and more.
A man gets a test at the East Boston Community Health Center COVID-19 testing station at Central Square Park in November 2020. This is an excerpt from WBUR's weekly health newsletter, CommonHealth. If you like what you read and want it in your inbox,We’re at a major turning point in the COVID era.
Several pandemic-era policies that allowed the state and federal governments to respond to COVID are about to end. Here are a few of the big changes:Health insurers will continue to pay for COVID tests ordered by clinicians. But testing for COVID at home will become more expensive for most people.
"The risk is extremely low, and bringing the mask mandate down is following the science and the data that are available," Massachusetts Public Health Commissioner Dr. Robbie Goldstein told reporters on Tuesday. But several patients and public health advocates say they’re concerned that the end of universal masking in health care settings will put people at risk.COVID vaccination mandates have been perhaps the most controversial strategies for managing the pandemic. Massachusetts, under former Gov. Charlie Baker, and Boston, under Mayor Michelle Wu, required public employees to be vaccinated. Protests and lawsuits ensued — but didn’t stop the mandates from going into effect.
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
These Massachusetts musicians are killing it in the local sceneA spotlight on rising local musicians, from folk experimentalist Anjimile to Brockton’s rap rabble-rousers Van Buren Records and indie rock poet Squirrel Flower. Read more about the musicians defining Massachusetts’ sound now.
Read more »
Voter guide: Super Tuesday primary elections in MassachusettsMassachusetts is one of 15 states voting on Super Tuesday, March 5. Here's what to know about the state's Democratic and Republican presidential primary ballots, how delegates are awarded and your options for in-person or mail-in voting.
Read more »
What the search for Bigfoot in Massachusetts can teach us about ourselvesAuthor and professor John O'Connor, joins us to discuss his new book: 'The Secret History of Bigfoot: Field Notes on a North American Monster.' He centers Massachusetts in the book, he tells us why.
Read more »
Super Tuesday live updates: Trump wins Massachusetts, Maine, Texas; Haley still winless todayThis is additional taxonomy that helps us with analytics
Read more »
PrizePicks Reaches Deal with Massachusetts Regulators to Alter DFS OfferingsDaily Fantasy Sports operator to switch to peer-to-peer Arena game in Old Bay State starting March 8.
Read more »
Massachusetts servicewoman who was shot, killed alongside daughter remembered for her 'dedication of duty'A mother who was shot and killed alongside her daughter in Worcester, Massachusetts, was remembered as 'brilliantly intelligent and destined for success.'
Read more »