Baker Says MA Residents Should Rethink Holiday Plans: Patch PM

Boston MA

15 December, 2020

2:48 PM

Description

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Tuesday, Dec. 15. Here's what Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today: With polls showing 30 percent of Massachusetts residents planning to celebrate the holidays with people outside their household, Gov. Charlie Baker urged them to cancel or postpone those plans in his coronavirus update Tuesday. "I would really ask you and urge you to, first of all, reconsider those plans," Baker said. "If you must....people should wear masks, they should open windows, they should use good hygiene, they should distance if they can, and follow the rules that have been put in place and proven to be effective." The state Department of Health released holiday guidelines Tuesday, as it did before Thanksgiving. But the state has seen a sharp increase in coronavirus cases, deaths and positive test dates since then. On Tuesday, Baker blamed the spike on people who ignored those guidelines before Thanksgiving and said the spike had put the state's healthcare system under stress. More Coverage On Patch: 6 MA Towns Split From State Rules, Roll Back Reopening FurtherDespite Coronavirus Surge, Most Boston Hospitals Have Space Read the full story. Other Top Stories Former Cape Pastor Accused Of Rape, Assault Mark Hession served as the pastor for Our Lady of Victory Parish in Centerville from 2000 to 2014. He also previously served as the pastor at St. Joan of Arc Church in Orleans. In March 2019, the Diocese of Fall River places Hession on leave from "active priestly ministry" after parishioners of Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Seekonk complained he sent inappropriate communications. Peabody Essex Museum CEO Leaving After 18 Months On Job While Brian Kennedy did not give a reason for his departure, he said in a statement the museum is "now positioned for its next phase as a global museum that enriches its local, regional and national communities. 1 Killed In Wakefield Crash On I-95 The crash happened shortly before 5:30 a.m. on the southbound side of the highway in Wakefield. The driver was taken to Lahey Hospital in Burlington, where he was pronounced dead. State police identified the driver as a 35-year-old man from Massachusetts but are withholding his name and hometown pending family notification. Also Today More Snow For More Parts Of MA In Latest Nor'easter ForecastIn Tight Vote, MBTA Board Agrees to Cut ServiceGoogle Acquires Waltham Tech FirmFormer Brockton Fire Chief Dies At Age 90 Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at [email protected] or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).