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Is it normal?
Author: TriSec    Date: 03/12/2022 11:51:54

Good Morning.

We're about to get hammered by that nasty storm those of you to the Southwest are pushing up towards New England, so naturally I'm out at camp today. Last staff meeting before our woodbadge course in two weeks!


It's been spring break at ol' JWU. Javi came home last Friday; unfortunately, I had a major car incident (fixed) and he decided to work most of the week, so we really didn't do too much.

Until yesterday. Months ago, when the Celtics stunk, I picked up a couple of tickets to the game for last night, against the Pistons. Like I told Javi at the time, "I'll cough up for good seats", and they did not disappoint.

But it was a delightful early spring day around here yesterday. Wall-to-wall sunshine, and temps in the low 50s. A very pleasant day to be out and about. So we did.

I can't go a day without bothering trolleys, so we started at the tour headquarters. I was trying to get a VIP pass to the Tea Party Ships and Museum. Despite it being owned by the same company, I had never actually seen the entire experience. Being Boston, we walked down the Rose Kennedy Greenway to reach our destination, and it was indeed quite a show. Starting in the "East Meetinghouse", we listened to some speeches by ordinary citizens and Sam Adams, then decided that freakin' tea was not going to be unloaded. On to the ships to do the deed!

In conjunction with the game tonight, I had decided not to try to eat at any of the Boston Garden restaurants or the Hub Hall, so we had planned on some fine dining in the North End. Being an ocean city, from the Tea Party we walked up the Harborwalk into that famed Italian neighborhood. The Freedom Trail goes through there too, and we poked around Paul Revere Park and the Old North Church, and finished with a peek at the "Spite House" before heading to dinner.

At the Garden, I thought it was going to be a tough night, but the Celtics finally got their act together and did beat the Pistons. And as a part of the NBA 75th anniversary celebrations, "The Truth", Cedric Maxwell, Antoine Walker, and a few other Celtics old-timers were in the building for a halftime ceremony. How cool was that??

*yawn*. Yeah, I know. I just wrote another Boston Travelogue. (Seriously, when are you all going to come up and see me?)

But why was yesterday significant? Because this happened last week.


Citing improving COVID-19 metrics in Boston, Mayor Michelle Wu and Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, Commissioner of Public Health and Executive Director of the Boston Public Health Commission, today announced that the City’s indoor masking mandate will be lifted effective Saturday, March 5, 2022. At a meeting held this afternoon, the City’s Board of Health voted unanimously to endorse the recommendation from Dr. Ojikutu to rescind the order. The decision was made based on key COVID-19 metrics, which show continued improvement in the prevalence and severity of the COVID-19 pandemic in Boston.

Beginning this Saturday, residents and visitors to Boston will no longer be required by the City to wear a face covering in indoor public spaces, such as gyms, bars and restaurants, museums, and entertainment venues. Individual operators may still choose to require masking. Public transportation, health care settings, and congregant care settings are still subject to state and federal mask orders. The Boston Public Schools will continue to require masking while BPHC and BPS leaders monitor metrics including school positivity and vaccination rates following last week's school vacation. The Board of Health will hear additional updates on COVID-19 and school masking at its next regularly scheduled meeting on Wednesday, March 9.

The masking requirement will be lifted at City buildings including for City employees, except for Boston Public Schools and Boston Public Health Commission. Masks are recommended in city buildings where vulnerable populations are served, such as Boston Public Library branches and BCYF community centers.

“I’m grateful that our city is ready to take this step in our recovery thanks to the hard work and commitment of residents keeping our communities safe over many, many months,” said Mayor Michelle Wu. “As we continue to make progress even while living with COVID, Boston will continue leading on public health to keep our communities safe, healthy, and prepared.”


We still had to wear masks on the subway, but that was it. For a cool Saturday in the early shoulder season, Boston was alive yesterday. If we are indeed back to "normal", whatever that means now, it's going to be a big summer. Only time will tell if we made the choice too early, or not.
 

3 comments (Latest Comment: 03/14/2022 12:43:39 by Scoopster)
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