Coronavirus Outbreak At Newton-Wellesley Hospital: Patch PM

NEWTON, MA — It's Friday, Nov. 20. And it's about time. Time to kick back, sip a warm beverage and take a look at what Patch has been covering in greater Boston and across Massachusetts.

A coronavirus outbreak at Newton-Wellesley Hospital infected nine employees and one patient this week, prompting an entire unit to shut down for a few days.

Between Nov. 5 and Nov. 15, the hospital found nine staff members in the endoscopy unit tested positive for the virus and one patient who had been exposed to an infected staffer was later found to have the virus, too. The hospital has restricted visitors after cases recently rose.

Elsewhere in greater Boston

Newton Schools To Get Rapid Coronavirus Tests From State
The rapid tests deliver results in about 15 minutes and could help schools identify positive cases quicker, state officials said. But if schools don't allow students who are feeling ill to come to school, and the test is only for those who are symptomatic at school, how effective will that be, wonder some.

Waltham's Homeless Shelters To Expand Winter Hours After Pushback

After what advocates have described as a saga, the Middlesex Human Service Agency, which runs the city's two homeless shelters, said it would expand the hours to 24/7 this winter beginning in December and running through March so people experiencing homelessness won't be left out in the cold amid the pandemic. The agency said the advocacy work had nothing to do with plans that were already in the works.

Free Coronavirus Testing For Uninsured Brookline Residents

When Brookline rolled out news last week that it would be offering COVID-19 testing near town hall for people who were insured, there were a number of people who asked why not support testing for the town's more vulnerable populations?

Letter: Focus On What The Fernald Became, Not What It Was

"My life centered around Fernald because my sister lived there for 67 years," writes Dorothy Rouleau about Waltham's Fernald Center in response to disability advocates protesting a holiday light show on the property, which was once dubbed a "snake pit."

Arlington Balks At Traditional Holiday Celebrations

Town officials are encouraging alternative celebrations, citing a recent surge in Canada as a "cautionary tale" for Arlington.

Across Massachusetts

• There's a police memorial controversy in Peabody.
• Disc golf is coming to Danvers.
• Looks like a cannabis retailer is coming to Cleveland Circle, to Boston College's chagrin.
• The unemployment rate is falling in Massachusetts.
• Massachusetts high school basketball and hockey are masking up this winter.
• Need some holiday cheer? Check out these shows

And finally today:

Blue sharks are common off the coast of Cape Cod, but shallow marshes? Cue the jaws music and get out of town. Jokes aside, we know that sharks are pretty cool to watch when you are safely out of the water. Not only was one spotted, but a local was able to get a short video of it flopping around. Check out this video of the rare shark sighting.

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a something you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how.