Why N95 Masks Are Still In Short Supply

Also: Anyone 75+ can sign up for a vaccine starting today; Boston Marathon announces tentative race date ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 27, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ❄️ Snow showers likely before 1 p.m., then a chance of rain showers. Cloudy, with a high near 38. This January was on track to have the [least amount of snow]( in Boston for the first month of any year on record. But Mother Nature had different plans last night. Sigh. Before you bundle up to brave the elements, here are the headlines you should know today: - Gov. Charlie Baker took the podium (in his office) last night when he delivered his annual State of the Commonwealth address virtually. In his 23 minute address, he focused on the state's past and continued response to the pandemic, while also looking to the future, with hope that the end to the outbreak is near. You can [read the full transcript here.]( - Boston is joining the rest of the state in relaxing some of its COVID restrictions for businesses. Gyms, movie theaters and museums will be allowed to [reopen Monday]( with a limited capacity. The move comes as state COVID numbers are starting to trend downward. It's estimated that there are more than 85,000 active infections across the state right now – definitely not low, but it's the lowest number reported in nearly three weeks. - Massachusetts residents who are 75 or older can start signing up for COVID vaccines starting today. You can make your appointment for one of the state's 100+ locations on the [state's website.]( - More than 1,400 people held in state prisons have been vaccinated since inoculations began for prisoners last week. [Advocates say]( more education may be needed to increase participation among incarcerated people. - The Boston Museum of Fine Arts plans to reopen a week from today. The museum's doors have been closed since December, when the city rolled back its reopening plan. If you want to visit, you can reserve your time slot on the [museum's website.]( P.S.– If you're over 75 and plan to sign up soon for a coronavirus vaccine, WBUR would like to hear how it goes for you. You can email your full name, where you tried to sign up, and your description of how it went to CommonHealth editor Carey Goldberg at goldberg.carey@gmail.com. Please include the best way to reach you in case she has follow-up questions. You can also send in an iPhone voice memo recording of your experience, and we may use it on the air as well. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Why N95 Masks Are Still In Short Supply In The U.S.]( Even hospital workers are still being asked to ration and reuse their supplies of N95s, and the website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says, "N-95 respirators should not be used [by the general public] because they should be conserved for healthcare personnel." [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Boston City Council Considers Proposal To Suspend Special Election]( The Tuesday hearing was prompted by the pending resignation of Mayor Marty Walsh, who has been nominated by President Joe Biden to serve as Secretary of Labor. If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Walsh's departure would shake up City Hall politics and prompt a compressed race to succeed him. [Read more.]( 3. [As Lawmakers Plan Vote On Climate Bill, A Showdown With Baker Seems Likely]( Both branches of the Legislature plan to vote again Thursday on the climate policy bill that Gov. Charlie Baker vetoed at the end of last session, launching a back-and-forth most likely to end with an override of another gubernatorial veto or with lawmakers agreeing to some of the changes Baker has suggested. [Read more.]( 4. [The Biden Administration Is Working To Buy 200 Million More COVID-19 Vaccine Doses]( He also announced steps to increase vaccine doses going to state and local governments over the next three weeks, and to provide them more clarity going forward about how much supply they should expect. [Read more.]( 5. [The Biden Factor: Key Policy Changes Affecting Mass.]( If you missed yesterday afternoon's special send newsletter, here's the recap: We asked WBUR reporters to dig into key issues of importance to Massachusetts: what changes are (or may be) coming under the Biden administration, and what they're watching out for in the weeks to come. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - Boston Marathon organizers have set a [tentative date]( for this year's race: Oct. 11. - The baseball Hall of Fame [won’t have any new players]( in the class of 2021 after voters decided no one had the merits — on-the-field or off. That includes Curt Schilling, Barry Bonds and Roger Clemens. - Shot over the summer of 2019, Cambridge native Sian Heder’s second feature film "CODA" is about a young woman torn between her family's fishing business in Gloucester or following her singing passion. It [debuts]( at this year's mostly virtual Sundance Film Festival on Jan. 28. - Adam took his own life in 2016, [writes Emily Rubin]( about her brother. But she imagines ways he might have found safety. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Here & Now | The Role Of The First Lady Evolves As Jill Biden Continues To Teach English]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Vaccine Delivery Speeds Up In Mass.]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Complete Coverage Of Vaccines In Mass. [Find it here.]( COVID-19 Immunity: How To Get It, How Long It Lasts, And How To Detect It. [Listen.]( 📬 Get the latest on vaccine safety protocols, side effects, local distribution plans & more in your inbox. Sign up for our [coronavirus newsletter and alerts.]( What We're Reading - Mayor Aims to Turn Small Town Into QAnon, USA ([Daily Beast]( - The future of social networks might be audio ([MIT Technology Review]( Tell Me Something Good [He Saved 669 Children From Nazis — A New Book Tells His Story To Kids]( "I'm always inspired by the people who are bigger than life, that they carry with them this amazing history of being so important," he says. By all accounts, Nicholas Winton did not see himself that way. "He said, 'I never was a hero because I never was in danger,'" coauthor Peter Sís marvels, "He did lots of good in the moment when he could do it." Before you go: [Where's the lie?]( 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📨 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. 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