Community Corner

The First Year With Coronavirus In Massachusetts: Patch PM

Also: Here comes the snow | Storm slows MA vaccination efforts | Pedroia retires | Joe Kennedy jumps into life after elected politics | More

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About one out of every five Massachusetts restaurants have closed for good since the start of the coronavirus crisis. Many more are now in "hibernation" for the winter, and others will undoubtedly serve their last meals before we reach the "new normal."
About one out of every five Massachusetts restaurants have closed for good since the start of the coronavirus crisis. Many more are now in "hibernation" for the winter, and others will undoubtedly serve their last meals before we reach the "new normal." (Dave Copeland/Patch)

MASSACHUSETTS — It's Monday, Feb. 1. Here's what you should know this afternoon:

  • The snow is here and, by the time it ends, it will have dumped 12 to 18 inches over most parts of Massachusetts. The weather is hampering the state’s coronavirus vaccination efforts, which entered the second phase Monday.
  • It’s the been one year since health officials reported the first confirmed case of coronavirus in Massachusetts.
  • Former Rep. Joe Kennedy, a Newton resident, joined CNN as a commentator and has started a nonprofit jumping in his life after elected politics.
  • Dustin Pedroia, 37, retired Monday after 17 seasons and as one of the most decorated infielders in Red Sox history.

Scroll down for those and other stories Patch has been covering in Massachusetts today.

Wednesday's Top Story

It’s been one year since state public health officials reported on the first confirmed case of the coronavirus in Massachusetts.

Find out what's happening in Newtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

As of Sunday, 498,144 other Massachusetts residents have tested positive for COVID-19 and there have been 14,287 reported coronavirus deaths in the state. Patch's Regional Editor Dave Copeland reflects on the grim milestone and how it has changed language in a commentary.

“Words are the primary tools we use to cover the news, and after Feb. 1, 2020 we had to learn how to use dozens of new tools,” he writes. “After the first reported COVID-19 death in Massachusetts on March 20, it wasn't long before we started writing about ‘excessive death rate.’ That was the difference between the number of people that had died in the state in 2020 when compared to earlier years. Other terrifying words and phrases creeped into our everyday reporting and writing: PPE shortage...positive test rate...ventilators...hospital surge capacity.

Find out what's happening in Newtonfor free with the latest updates from Patch.

“And, being a particularly squeamish person, I cringe every time I type ‘nasal swab’." Read the full commentary.

Nearby News

Today’s Other Top Stories In Massachusetts

Let it snow: The snow is here and, by the time it ends, it will have dumped 12 to 18 inches over most parts of Massachusetts. The storm will be with us for 36 hours, with the heaviest snowfall coming on Monday afternoon and evening. The weather is hampering the state’s coronavirus vaccination efforts, which entered the second phase Monday.

Who Said It

“Dustin is so much more than his American League Most Valuable Player award, his All-Star Game selections, and the Gold Gloves he amassed throughout his impressive 17-year career in our organization.”

— Red Sox principal owner John Henry on Dustin Pedroia, who announced his retirement at age 37 Monday after 17 seasons with the team.

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