Baker Wants Elementary Schoolers Back To Class In April

Also: Hospitals can start booking COVID vaccine appointments again; the story behind "Black Kung Fu Chick" ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( February 24, 2021 Good Morning Boston, 🌞 Mostly sunny, with a high near 48. This email is chock full of important local news you won't want to miss, especially if you've been feeling like [this New Yorker cartoon]( is too relatable, as of late. Here are some headlines you need to know (and can share with your friends): - Hospitals will be able to resume scheduling new coronavirus vaccination appointments for patients on Monday. This comes after a two-week suspension from Gov. Charlie Baker, who shifted shipments away from hospitals to mass vaccination sites in hopes of getting more shots into arms. But now, with supply increasing, some hospitals are back in the loop. - The Dartmouth mass vaccination site opens today at a former Circuit City store. The site will start by administering 500 shots per day and eventually hopes to ramp up to 2,000. As of now, the state's website says no appointments are available there. - The receipts are out, and it looks like Massachusetts [spent]( about $500,000 on PrepMod, the Maryland-based software company whose technology played a role in the state's COVID-19 vaccine scheduling system fiasco last week. - Despite the growing criticism of the state's vaccine rollout, Baker is digging in his heels to defend the plan and pace. At a press conference yesterday, he said Massachusetts is No. 1 in the country for vaccine distribution per capita, among the 24 states with populations above 5 million. And even though the appointment website crashed hard last week, Baker said the state was able to make 70,000 appointments for vaccinations. (FWIW: That's not excusing the mess – the state is still working to improve the online scheduler.) - Attention Boston sports fans: Baker may soon make an announcement about when fans will be allowed to attend home games in-person again. As of this week, New York allowed sports venues to open at 10% capacity and will require attendees to provide proof of a negative COVID test. - A new study shows that the sheer existence of antibodies in someone's system does not determine if they are immune to COVID. It's the amount and type of antibodies that does. Researchers are continuing to determine how many antibodies people need to be immune and how long that protection lasts, but we don't have those answers yet. However, every piece of new information is certainly a baby step in the right direction. - And in non-COVID news: Boston's Chief of Economic Development, John Barros, is stepping down. He's served on Mayor Marty Walsh's cabinet since 2014. It's believed that he's eyeing the mayor's seat and plans to enter the already crowded race. TBD on that. P.S.– Something special will be hitting inboxes later this morning if you're signed up for WBUR's coronavirus newsletter. Don't get that one? [Time to fix that]( so you don't miss out. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Baker Administration Wants Elementary Students Back In Classrooms Beginning In April]( State education Commissioner Jeff Riley hopes to bring elementary school students back into classrooms full time as early as April, especially because COVID-19 health metrics inside schools have been improving. [Read more.]( - Related: [Not All COVID-19 Aid Is Spent. But Schools, Cities And States Say They Need More](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [SJC Says No Jail Time Credit Allowed, Even If Conviction Is Vacated Due To Gov't Misconduct]( The state's highest court made this ruling Tuesday in the case of Braulio Caliz, who argued that he deserved credit for the time he served in prison before his conviction was dismissed because of the Amherst drug lab scandal. [Read more.]( 3. [City Councilor: Boston Is Leaving Millions In Housing Dollars On The Table]( Councilor Kenzie Bok — an affordable housing expert whose district includes Beacon Hill and Fenway -- says if Boston could find a way to build 2,500 more affordable housing units, the feds would have to foot the rent. [Read more.]( 4. [New York Grand Jury Votes Not To Indict Rochester Officers In Daniel Prude Case]( The investigation was into the fatal encounter between police and Prude – who was in the midst of a mental health free fall when he encountered police and later died of asphyxiation – after his family uncovered video footage showing officers pinning him to the ground while he was in handcuffs and with a mesh hood over his head. [Read more.]( 5. [High-End Medical Provider Let Ineligible People Skip COVID-19 Vaccine Line]( A national health care provider has administered COVID-19 vaccinations to people deemed ineligible for the scarce vaccine by local health departments, including people with connections to company leaders and customers of its concierge medical service, according to internal communications leaked to NPR. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - If all goes well, there could be a [shot to prevent Lyme disease]( (for humans!) available by spring 2023. Phase one of the clinical trials began last week. - ICYMI: WBUR's Town Hall on vaccine distribution was last night. You can [watch the whole thing here.]( - The virus is good at separating us, writes Sushrut Jangi [in this commentary](. But we have been saying, "Take a deep breath," in every possible language, hoping that our words and speaking with patients in their own languages might connect each other. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [As U.S. Surpasses A Half Million Deaths, COVID Cases Are On The Decline]( [Listen]( VACCINES [Do I Qualify? Vaccine Confusion For Patients With Multiple Serious Medical Conditions]( Asked & Answered: Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions. [Read more.]( What To Know About Coronavirus Vaccine Distribution In Mass. [Read more.]( Mass. Survey Documents Disparate Impacts Of Pandemic For People Of Color, Low Income Residents. [Read more.]( 📬 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 - Slate Suspends Podcast Host After Debate Over Racial Slur ([The New York Times]( - Where have all the work friends gone? ([The Boston Globe]( - Britney Spears Was Never in Control ([The Cut]( Tell Me Something Good ['Black Kung Fu Chick' Fights Back Against Stereotypes And Adultification Of Black Girls]( "To witness two strangers, two amazing strong women who are braving icy roads, blockaded roads, really dangerous conditions at night to literally deliver me food and water, a perfect stranger, that they’ve never met before — it was the most touching gesture that anyone’s ever done for me because they care.” Before you go: Anyone [lose a pony or a horse]( 😎 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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