BOSTON — Many people in high-risk areas for COVID-19 are planning extra precautions as a second surge hits the state.
Massachusetts reported more than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases for the third day in a row Monday.
“I’m a little bit concerned that some people are not taking this seriously,” said Daniel Rodriguez Leil.
Rodriguez Leil is pretty worried about this recent surge in COVID-19 cases.
He lives in Waltham, which is one of dozens of towns now designated as a high risk area.
“We try to keep our masks and some backup masks in the car and then we have our sanitizer in the car, we have one right at the entrance of our apartment,” said Rodriguez Leil.
Now as cases are on the rise in Massachusetts, he says his family will be taking even more precautions.
“Probably we’re going to be a little more strict staying home,” said Rodriguez Leil. “I’m working usually a week at the office and then a week at home, so I’m probably going to switch and stay home for the rest of the winter time.”
Charlene McGann is also planning to be stricter with her routines.
She’s actually stocking up on necessities that were out of stock at the beginning of the pandemic.
“It just is very scary,” said McGann. “So now I’ve been trying to whenever I go to the store and I see wipes or see anything that we’re going to need I just stock up on it.”
She’s also changing her holiday plans to be with immediate family only.
“I feel sad about it, but my husband has been in and out of the hospital a lot this year and luckily he hasn’t got COVID,” said McGann. “But I just want to play it safe.”
Others aren’t so worried about a second surge.
“To me I think we’re overplaying it,” said Joe Dow in Waltham.
Dow says everyone’s already doing what they can to stay safe and that should be enough.
“We know how to deal with this a lot easier than we did seven months ago,” said Dow. “If it was then, yeah I’d be very concerned. Today I don’t think the cases that we’re getting are serious.”
Many people who live in those high-risk areas, including Waltham, also received an emergency alert on their cell phones Monday evening.
The alert not only advises people to wear a mask, wash your hands, and social distance, but it also says to get a free COVID test and stop gatherings with family and friends.
Download the free Boston 25 News app for up-to-the-minute push alerts
>> Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
RESOURCES:
- Complete local and national coronavirus coverage here
- Follow us on Facebook and Twitter | Watch Boston 25 NOW
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/cmg/7QOJU3BNCJERBNKJC5LWTBYFLU.png)
