So About This COVID Resurgence: 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 Friday, July 16. Let's get started.

It's not hyperbole to say COVID is making a bit of a comeback.

Calm down, I'm not saying you need to be get another vaccine or reorder a dozen more masks. I'm not saying schools aren't opening in the fall. I'm not saying we're going backwards in a life-altering way. I'm not fear-mongering or click-baiting or overselling or underplaying the severity of what's happening.

I'm just saying: It's indisputable that COVID cases are on the rise again. About 40 percent of Massachusetts communities reported rising positive test rates in the state's data released Thursday tonight. The seven-day average of confirmed cases is up three times from its low point.

Gov. Charlie Baker said the uptick is due to Fourth of July gatherings, according to Chris Lisinski at State House News via WBUR. He also warned the new Delta variant is "very, very contagious."

Speaking of the increase, Boston Magazine's Spencer Buell asks what the hell to do with the knowledge that breakthrough cases and the Delta variant are popping up — especially after a recent outbreak in Provincetown.

"There is no reason to overdo the dread, of course," Buell writes. "Experts have told us to stay vigilant, and to get vaccinated if we haven’t already, but not to fear the Delta variant if we’re fully vaxxed. At the same time, we do need to be realistic about the fact that people are still going to catch this virus, and that we may need to occasionally be on slightly higher alert about symptoms if we cross paths with someone who later tests positive."

The Yankees COVID outbreak has the Red Sox worried. The teams were scheduled to kick off the second half of the season Thursday night, but it was postponed due to three confirmed tests and three additional positive test results among the Yankees players. ESPN reported Aaron Judge is one of those who tested positive, and because he was just at the All-Star Game with five of the Red Sox' top players — not all of who are vaccinated, manager Alex Cora said — there's some anxiety in Boston.

But wait, aren't COVID postponements a thing of the past? Mostly, but even vaccinated people can still contract the virus — it just isn't likely to be as severe when they do. The Sox-Yankees series is scheduled to stretch through Sunday, but the status of those games isn't yet known.

Please, don't be like these people. Some customers are being complete jerks to overworked restaurant workers, according to Amanda Kaufman at The Boston Globe. Restaurants are still short-staffed and struggling with a hampered supply chain in the wake of COVID, and that means a dining experience less convenient than pre-pandemic times. For instance, my beloved Border Cafe in Saugus is closed Mondays and Tuesdays and has a severely limited menu. But when I still choose to go, I'm not throwing F-bombs or tantrums like the folks in the Globe story.

A national outlook

Los Angeles County is reinstating mask mandates for indoor public places — regardless of whether people are vaccinated — amid an alarming surge of COVID-19 cases. (Los Angeles Times)

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer set Wednesday deadlines for a landmark bipartisan infrastructure bill and the Democrats' spending bill. (U.S. News & World Report)

Dozens of people are dead and perhaps more than a thousand are missing after powerful storms caused sudden flooding in Germany. (NBC News)

A lighter touch

You think you know tacos? I mean, you think you really know tacos? McCormick wants to hire you and bless you with the title of Director of Taco Relations. Seriously.

What I'm reading today: As a parent who could always use more diapers, I'm making sure I fully understand the child tax credit that started landing in bank accounts Thursday.

Weather

The National Weather Service says: During the day — Scattered showers and thunderstorms, mainly after 4pm. Mostly sunny, with a high near 89. Southwest wind 9 to 11 mph. Chance of precipitation is 30%. New rainfall amounts of less than a tenth of an inch, except higher amounts possible in thunderstorms. At night — Scattered showers and thunderstorms. Mostly cloudy, with a low around 69. Southwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm after midnight. 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 weekend.

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