EYE ON THE CASE SURGE IN OTHER
STATES.
REPORTER: DR. JOHN SANTIAGO
CALLS THE SPIKE ACROSS THE
COUNTRY AN EXTENSION OF THE
FIRST WAVE THAT WE EXPERIENCED
HERE.
AS WE LOOK AROUND AND SEE
IMPROVING NUMBERS AND BUSINESSES
REOPENING, HE SAYS NOW IS NOT
THE TIME TO LET OUR GUARD DOWN.
>> UNTIL WE HAVE A VACCINE, ALL
WE CAN DO IS BE AS VIGILANT AS
POSSIBLE.
REPORTER: WHILE HIS WORK AT
BOSTON CENTERS EMERGENCY CENTER
HAS RETURNED TO PRE-COVID DAYS,
HIS MIND IS NEVER FAR FROM THE
VIRUS.
ESPECIALLY DURING HIS WEEKDAY
JOB ON BEACON HILL, WORKING ON
POLICY TO HELP PEOPLE GET
THROUGH THE PANDEMIC.
>> PRECARIOUS.
YOU ARE CLOSE TO HAVING ANOTHER
SURGE.
REPORTER: MASSACHUSETTS HAS DONE
AN INCREDIBLE JOB KEEPING
CONCERNED ABOUT THE RECORD
NUMBER OF CASES AND MORE
HOSPITALIZATIONS IN OTHER STATES
AROUND THE COUNTRY.
>> A LOT OF THE POLITICAL
LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED THEIR
CITIZENS, DECIDED TO REOPEN TO
QUICK, NOT TAKE THE VIRUS AS
SERIOUS AS THEY SHOULD HAVE.
AS A RESULT, YOU HAVE THE
SITUATION WE ARE SEEING TODAY.
REPORTER: MANY OF THE NEW CASES
IN THE U.S. INVOLVE YOUNGER
PEOPLE WHO LARGELY HANDLE THE
VIRUS BETTER THAN OLDER PATIENTS
.
THAT’S PUTTING VULNERABLE PEOPLE
AT RISK.
>> WE KNOW UP TO 20% OR 40% ARE
A SYMPTOMATICALLY THEY HAVE THE
VIRUS.
YOU CAN BE WITH YOUR FRIENDS,
BARS IN A RESTAURANT, AND
SPREADING IT AROUND MEMBERS OF
THE COMMUNITY AND LOVED ONES.
REPORTER: HE REMINDS THE FALL AS
KIDS ARE SUPPOSED TO HEAD BACK
TO SCHOOL WITH FLU SEASON COMING
COULD BE A DANGEROUS TIME.
>> WE HAVE TO PRIORITIZE PUBLIC
HEALTH.
THAT’S WHEN WE COME UP WITH
GUIDELINES AS A GOVERNMENT.
WE WANT TO MAKE SURE STAFF AND
ESSENTIAL WORKERS ARE SAFE,
SOUND, AND, AS WELL AS STUDENTS.
I WORRY WE WILL SEE A SECOND
PEAK.
REPORTER: FOR PEOPLE WHO MAY
FEEL IT IS OK TO LET DOWN YOUR
GUARD, WHAT DO YOU WANT THEM TO
KNOW?
>> YOU CANNOT LET DOWN YOUR
GUARD.
WE ARE IN A CRISIS, AN
UNPRECEDENTED CRISIS, LIVING IN
UNPRECEDENTED TIMES.
SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR
LIVES.
REPORTER: HE MADE A POINT TO
REMIND PEOPLE THERE ARE STILL
HOTSPOTS IN MASSACHUSETTS, WITH
HIGH POSITIVE TEST RATES.
AND WE NEED TO DO ALL WE CAN TO
MAKE SURE VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
AND ESSENT
