Why Some Boston Neighborhoods Feel The Pandemic Hit Harder

Also: A new drug to treat COVID-19 heads to the FDA; what we know about mask requirements in various towns and cities ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( April 30, 2020 Good Morning Boston, ⛅ Some bright spots, [chance of midday showers](. Highs near 55. Patience is the name of the game here in Massachusetts when it comes to getting out of the surge. Here are the must-know headlines on the local coronavirus outbreak from the last 24 hours: - We're still waiting on [hospitalization numbers]( to fall in Massachusetts. So while Gov. Charlie Baker thinks the pandemic seems to have hit a plateau, overall we're still in a holding pattern. - The Federal Drug Administration is expected to approve an [experimental drug]( as an emergency treatment for COVID-19. The drug has been tested all over the world, including [clinical trials at Boston hospitals](. - There are some concerns around the accuracy of the state's death rate. Gov. Baker agrees with the U.S. Centers for Disease Control that COVID-19 deaths are [probably being undercounted]( in the hardest hit states (including here). - More colleges and universities are feeling the financial pinch from the coronavirus: The UMass Medical School [announced plans to furlough]( about 100 employees for up to six months to offset financial losses. - Coronavirus by the numbers: The state reported 252 new deaths yesterday due to COVID-19, bringing the statewide death toll to 3,405. They also reported 1,963 new cases, bringing the total number of cases to 60,265. ([See our charts and map for a more detailed breakdown.]( P.S. – Here's a little history lesson for you: the [debate over mandated masks is nothing new](. It actually stems back to the 1918 flu epidemic. Most people followed the rules back then, but a small group known as the Anti-Mask League said the gauze "masks" (OK, more like strips of fabric) violated their civil liberties – plus they were really uncomfortable. Thank goodness for today's softer cotton! — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Why Some Boston Neighborhoods Have Been Hit Harder By The Pandemic Than Others]( Black residents make up more than 40% of the Dorchester neighborhood. Education levels and median income are below the city's average. The most recent city data available show Dorchester has 132 reported COVID-19 cases for every 10,000 residents. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [If You're Admitted To A Partners HealthCare Hospital, Expect A Coronavirus Test]( Patients and hospital staff can expect to have the results within one to three hours. Partners says testing all patients will improve safety for both patients and hospital staff. Partners has also started daily coronavirus screenings on all admitted patients to catch cases that develop during a hospital stay.[Read more.]( 3. [A Next-Generation Coronavirus Test Raises Hopes And Concerns]( Known as an antigen test, this one could offer a much easier and more widely available alternative for diagnosis than the PCR test, though some scientists remain concerned about the test's reliability. [Read more.]( ➡️ Related: [Antiviral Drug Remdesivir Shows Promise For Treating Coronavirus In NIH Study]( 4. [Class Of 2020 Has Caps And Gowns — But Not Usual Pomp And Circumstance]( When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, college students all over the country were sent home to finish up the school year and it soon became clear that graduation ceremonies would be canceled. For some, the significance of wearing a cap and gown this year is especially poignant. [Read more.]( 5. [Why The U.S. Government Stopped Funding A Research Project On Bats And Coronaviruses]( To learn more about the cutoff of funds and the possible impact on coronavirus research, NPR interviewed the president of EcoHealth Alliance, Peter Daszak, as well as Robert Garry, a microbiologist at Tulane University who is playing a prominent role in COVID-19 research. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - More cities and towns are mandating that face masks or other protective coverings be worn in public. Want to know where and for how long the orders are in effect? Here's [what we know about the various mask requirements]( far. - There's a new matchmaker in town! ["Dental Cupid"]( aims to help patients in dire dental need who can't reach their dentist or don't have one – and it has caught on quickly in Massachusetts and beyond. - Sorry music lovers: The Newport Folk Festival and the Newport Jazz Festival are officially [canceled]( for 2020. - Looking for things to do this weekend? Check out [these virtual events suggested by our arts team]( that are sure to help get your mind off of our current circumstances. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Senior Living Facilities Are Coronavirus Hotspots. Now, Families Wonder If They Should Bring Loved Ones Home]( [Listen]( CORONAVIRUS RESOURCES [Get And Give Help: Your Guide To Navigating Coronavirus]( [Town By Town:]( See Your Community's Reported Coronavirus Cases [Map & Case Count:]( Breaking Down Coronavirus Here In Charts [Together Apart]( Share #StayHomeTips You Think Others Should Hear Amid The Pandemic Stay Informed: Get Coronavirus Email Alerts In Your Inbox. [Sign up.]( What We're Reading - Three Things Lockdowns Have Exposed About Working And Parenting ([The Upshot]( - Dinosaurs Is The Only Family Sitcom Grim Enough For This Moment ([Slate]( - Boston Latin And The Biggest Test Of Their Young Lives ([Boston Globe]( Tell Me Something Good [Street Sousaphonist Marches His Music Through Watertown Amid Pandemic]( Nowhere is there anything like the music that comes marching down the streets of Watertown, Mass. Before you go: Quarantine is really [making people weird](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news [WBUR]( [95289b97-66e8-43d4-a174-3bc3520a79a9.png]( [Instagram](  [Twitter]( [Facebook]( Want to change how you receive these emails? [Stop getting this newsletter by updating your preferences.]( I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. [Unsubscribe from all editorial newsletters.]( Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2020 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved. You signed up for this newsletter at wbur.org. Our mailing address is: WBUR-FM 890 Commonwealth AveBoston, MA 02215-1205 [Add us to your address book](