Health experts are issuing COVID-19 warnings on phones and TVs, but are people listening?

BOSTON — On a Monday night in October, the fall temperatures were not enough to slow down folks enjoying their dinner.

“We think it’s safer to be outdoors if we are at a restaurant,” said Ignacio Portales of Fenway. “When it gets colder, I don’t think we will go out as frequently to restaurants. We will have to stay mostly at home.”

It’s limited travel and no indoor dining for Portales, who prefers to err on the side of caution. And then there are people who are more on the riskier side.

“We got tested and we did all that stuff but it’s been like seven months of it so we were like this might be the last chance to travel together for a while so we did it,” said Brie Berard, of Utah who has been visiting New England. “It was like three days before we left before everything was surging in Utah.”

At the table behind them was a couple from New Jersey. During their travels, they received some of the COVID-19 public safety text messages that went to 10 high-risk areas.

“I did get the alert, I think it was Chelsea is what it stated in the text message and it just does raise your awareness,” said Andrew Bierfass, of New Jersey.

The “Wireless Emergency Alert” serves as a reminder of the high risk for infection in 10 cities and towns: Chelsea, Everett, Lawrence, Lynn, Nantucket, New Bedford, Revere, Framingham, Winthrop and Worcester

Residents in nearby communities may also receive the alert due to cell tower locations. Aside from the other efforts to fight the novel coronavirus in the state, the alert is another important message to remind residents to remain vigilant - wear masks, get tested and stay home if they feel sick, stop having gatherings and practice social distancing.

The state has also launched other initiatives to stop the spread, including deploying field teams and paid advertising and to remind residents that the pandemic is not over. The state did this so the numbers will not continue going up.

However, with alerts on phones and every news channel warning of increased numbers, are people listening? Once the awareness is raised, how much will this change people’s plans and comfort levels if numbers continue rising through the holidays?

“I wouldn’t be opposed to traveling especially if it’s with people you were 100% certain about and if you are contained with a group that is not Covid-positive,” said Bierfass.

The warnings from health experts about holiday travel and indoor crowds will continue, but because of quarantine fatigue, only portions of the population are listening.

“I wish we could travel but we won’t be able to travel,” said Portales. “I hope by next year we have a solution.”

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