COVID Won't Let Us Move On: The HUB

The HUB is a daily newsletter designed for what you want — to be caught up on the most interesting, important news in 5 minutes or less. It's a little bit of this, a little bit of that, but if there's something you want more or less of, email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com.

Today is Wednesday, July 21. Let's get started.

There's more and more coronavirus news coming each day as the Delta variant runs roughshod over the unvaccinated and even through many vaccinated people, though the latter group sees far less severe symptoms.

The state's seven-day average for newly confirmed cases has surpassed 200 for the first time since May 28, when the mask mandate was replaced with an advisory, according to Chris Lisinksi at State House News via GBH. The last week alone saw 290 more cases than the previous two combined. Different people will receive this information different ways, but here's the fact: Numbers are going up again.

Officials are trying to address outbreaks on the Cape, including senior-living facilities, says Sean Philip Cotter and Erin Tiernan at The Boston Herald. The Boston Globe's Kay Lazar and Camille Caldera have more on the eruption of cases among vaccinated people on the Cape.

Boston is asking residents who visited Provincetown this month to get tested, reports WBUR.

Pack an umbrella. Maybe a hard hat, too. I'll make it quick for you: Forecasters are expecting scattered strong to severe thunderstorms through the afternoon and evening — think from 1-9 p.m. "Damaging wind gusts, large hail and locally heavy downpours are the main threats," the National Weather Service said. (Hail! In July!) People south of the Pike are most likely to see the worst of it.

Mid-life crisis? Skip the car, get the plate. The state's low-number license plate lottery is in full swing, meaning you can apply until Aug. 27 to get plate numbers like 1010, 7000, F1, X6 or any of the other 200 available. It's free to apply. Enter the lottery here.

Tom Brady was in full charm mode visiting President Biden and the White House. The Patriots Buccaneers QB was with his team celebrating their Super Bowl victory. Nothing too newsworthy, but Brady dropped a few cute jokes in his return to Pennsylvania Ave. Meghan Ottolini of The Boston Herald has more.

Local voices

Rachel Slade hit the nail on the head. The Boston Magazine scribe cited "Boston’s horrendous, world-class, stupid, shameful traffic" as a cause for some residents' "universal dread." Bostonians have had to give up a lot for cars, she said. "If we expect people to give up their cars, we’ll need to create a Boston where no one needs them." Read more here.

A national outlook

Smoke rising from blazing fires on the West Coast have reached the East Coast, causing hazy skies even as far east as Boston. (CNN)

Jeff Bezos and three other people successfully launched into space in a rocket just days after another billionaire, Richard Branson, did the same. (New York Times)

An adviser to former President Trump was arrested on charges he acted as an agent of the United Arab Emirates. (Politico)

What I'm reading today: Seeing Sean Hannity plead with his viewers to get the COVID-19 vaccine the other night was ... weird. I mean, it's the right thing to do, but what changed? The Atlantic's David A. Graham seeks answers.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Scattered thunderstorms before 1pm, then scattered showers and thunderstorms between 1pm and 5pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 5pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Partly sunny, with a high near 81. West wind around 6 mph. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible. At night — Scattered showers and thunderstorms before 10pm, then isolated showers between 10pm and 11pm. Some of the storms could produce small hail and gusty winds. Mostly cloudy, then gradually becoming mostly clear, with a low around 60. Northwest wind 5 to 9 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New precipitation amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms.

Have a swell Wednesday.

You can email me at mike.carraggi@patch.com and follow me @PatchCarraggi.