Non-English Speaking Latinos More Likely To Die From COVID

Also: Readers and listeners share tips for vaccination sign ups; Gross to retire from Boston Police Commissioner ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( January 29, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ❄️ A slight chance of snow after 11 a.m. Partly sunny, with a high near 19. Gov. Charlie Baker knows the 75+ vaccine rollout could have gone better this week. But during a press conference yesterday, Baker did have some new information for those looking to make appointments. Here's what you should know: - The main complaint about this process has been that the website is difficult to navigate, especially for seniors, and that there's a scarcity of appointments. Addressing complaint No. 1, the state will add a call-in option to help make the system more accessible for those without internet access. More information on that is expected next week. - When it comes to appointment availability, Thursdays may be the best day to look for new openings at large state-run sites. That's when Massachusetts will update its vaccination appointments each week. The number of time slots added will be based on the overall vaccine supply from the federal government, which is expected to vary. Smaller vaccination sites (think your local pharmacy) will add appointments daily. - The state's second mass vaccination site at Fenway Park officially opens Monday. But a few were lucky enough to [grab appointments]( at the ballpark for the soft launch: 100 people were vaccinated at Fenway on Thursday, and about 150 are scheduled to get their shots there on Friday. - Patience, grasshopper. Baker said there are currently about a million people eligible to get vaccinated, and in the past two days, 45,000 people have made appointments for their first doses: "At 100,000 new doses a week, you can do the math and figure out that might mean it will take a little while for you to have the opportunity to get your first vaccination." And in other local coronavirus news: - The state released its weekly COVID report, and it's painting a better picture than last month, that's for sure. There are now fewer than 200 Massachusetts communities on the high-risk list. Boston and Andover were among the 30 cities and towns removed from the category, and only two communities were added: Sharon and Orleans. - Another highlight from the report: The [seven-day average]( for the positive test rate is at 4.4%, about half of what it was at the start of the month. While that's still much higher than we were heading into last fall, it's definitely an improvement. - The first member of the Massachusetts delegation has tested positive for COVID. Congressman Lori Trahan said she's asymptomatic and quarantining. (Important to note: Rep. Seth Moulton said last March he had coronavirus symptoms, but he was never tested.) P.S.– A big thanks to the WBUR readers and listeners who answered our callout yesterday! They shared some [really helpful tips]( on how they successfully booked their COVID vaccine appointments online and it's worth the read, in my very biased opinion (I wrote it). You can find the story below! — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[With Latinos Dying At Higher Rates From COVID, Brigham And Women’s Hospital Intervenes]( When Brigham and Women's Hospital compared Black and brown patients to white patients with similar chronic illnesses, they found no difference in the risk of death from COVID. A difference did emerge for Latinos who don’t speak English. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Tips From Mass. Residents Who Successfully Booked Coronavirus Vaccinations Online]( Amid the flood of frustration, some of our readers and listeners had some luck in landing a time slot for their first shot. Here are their tips and words of wisdom on the process. [Read more.]( 3. [Gross To Retire As Boston Police Commissioner, Mayor Taps Superintendent As Next Leader]( The abrupt resignation fueled some speculation that he may run for mayor to replace Boston Mayor Marty Walsh. But a Boston police spokesman said Gross has ruled out a run. [Read more.]( 4. [Report: Future Of Education Lies In Community Collaboration]( Among the many lessons during the historic year, this year’s annual Condition of Education report from the Rennie Center highlighted just how much communities rely on their education systems. In addition to basic learning, public schools fill a variety of needs for children like food security, technology access and mental health services. [Read more.]( - Opinion: ['A Good Education Saves Lives In More Ways Than One': How Teachers Can Boost COVID Vaccinations]( 5. [Hope And Skepticism As Biden Promises To Address Environmental Racism]( Among a raft of executive actions on the climate Biden signed on Wednesday, he created a new White House council on environmental justice, and pledged that 40% of the benefits from federal investments in clean energy and clean water would go to communities that bear disproportionate pollution. [Read more.]( - The Local Angle: [Take Two: Lawmakers Again Send Climate Bill to Baker]( Support the news Anything Else? - A [new exhibit]( at the Peabody Essex Museum is highlighting more than 100 women who've influenced the fashion industry's evolution – one of whom is Elizabeth Keckly, a former enslaved person who went on to become Mary Todd Lincoln's seamstress. - Renowned actress [Cicely Tyson died]( at the age of 96. She inspired generations of Black actors, and is best known for her roles in Sounder and The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman. - Doris Iaorovici's mother moved to Boston to be closer to family. What Doris didn't anticipate was the sheer pleasure of her mother's presence as they navigate a changed world amid the pandemic, and the ways they are still themselves and also different. You can [read her essay here.]( [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [Here & Now | The 'Critical Role' Of Dungeons & Dragons During The Pandemic]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Vaccines Will Take Months To Slow Down The Pandemic. Until Then, Mask Up]( 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 - Dorchester Tire has fixed its last flat ([The Dorchester Reporter]( - Newsletters; or, an enormous rant about writing on the web that doesn’t really go anywhere and that’s okay with me ([Robin Rendle]( - ‘We’ll Never Make That Kind of Movie Again’ ([Vulture]( Tell Me Something Good ['This Is Our Dream': A Crowdsourced Poem To Inspire Hope]( NPR's poetry callout asked that we write our way out of the unprecedented events of the past year and into a space of possibility. It garnered more than 2,500 responses — including poems from first graders, college professors and grandparents across the country. Before you go: We just want him [to be happy]( right? 😎 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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