Winter School Sports Back In Play In Salem: Patch PM

SALEM, MA — Today is Tuesday, Jan. 5. Here are the stories Patch has been covering on the North Shore and across Massachusetts.

Salem High School athletes will be able to get into the game this winter after all.

After a month-long delay due to rising coronavirus rates and logistics concerns about having indoor sports amid the pandemic, Salem Public Schools have given the go-ahead to start practice in boys basketball, girls basketball, gymnastics and swimming on Saturday.

"We are excited to get this started," Salem Public Schools said in a statement. "As you can imagine, there are some updates and new requirements for participation."

Those requirements include a flu vaccine for all athletes and weekly coronavirus tests.

Read the full story here.

Also on the North Shore

Beverly Mayor: Coronavirus Vigilance Needed As Vaccines Arrive

Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill's message to the community issued this week included a plea to stay vigilant with coronavirus-related protocols even as hope is on the horizon with front-line health care workers and first responders being vaccinated against the virus.

Cahill said many front line workers at Beverly Hospital have already received a vaccination shot with first responders expected to begin vaccinations as early as Monday.

Salem Free Student Testing Ahead Of Return To Hybrid Learning

Salem Public Schools' massive efforts to test as many students and staff as possible for coronavirus ahead of a return to in-classroom learning next week continued on Tuesday and Wednesday with free testing at eight school nlocations.

The district is using a saliva test to test students and staff and encourages all to be tested in efforts to identify any positive cases before student in grades kindergarten through ninth grade return to in-classroom learning in hybrid model.

Marblehead B&B Fish Owner Heads Back Into 'Hell's Kitchen'

Jason Santos admits it will be a bittersweet trip back in time to a much different place when the 19th season of "Hell's Kitchen" debuts on Fox Thursday night.

The Boston celebrity chef, and owner of Marblehead's B&B Fish that opened in September, filmed two seasons of Gordon Ramsay's hit show three years ago when everything involved with the restaurant business was much different than it has become in the past 10 months of the coronavirus health crisis.

North Shore First Responder Vaccinations In Marblehead

Peabody High School To Act As First Responder Vaccination Site

First responders could start getting vaccinated for the coronavirus as early as Monday at sites in Marblehead and Peabody.

Across Massachusetts

Officer-Involved Shooting In Newton: 1 Hospitalized

A Newton police officer was involved in a shooting in Newton Highlands Tuesday afternoon and someone was taken away in an ambulance, according to officials.

Lowell Field Hospital Accepts First Patient

The Lowell field hospital received its first patient from Lowell General Monday, the hospital said.

The field hospital, referred to by the hospital as an "alternative care site," opened with 14 beds Monday. It is expected to have 28 beds available by the end of the week.

Boston Extends Reopening Pause For At Least 3 More Weeks

Mayor Marty Walsh announced on Tuesday that Boston is extending its COVID restrictions for at least three more weeks.

The city will remain in a modified Phase 2, Step 2 of its coronavirus reopening plan.

"We are getting to a point where it's getting very dangerous, getting to a point where it's very dangerous for hospitalizations," said Walsh.

Victims In Charlton Murder-Suicide Identified

The man and woman who died in a murder-suicide over the weekend were identified Tuesday afternoon by Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early Jr.