850+ COVID Cases Linked To P-town Cluster

Also: Why Mass. State House doors are staying closed; Simone Biles will not compete in individual all-around final today ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  [Donate [WBUR]]( [View in Browser](  [WBUR]( July 29, 2021 Good Morning Boston, ⛅ Increasing clouds, with a high near 79. Chance of showers after 3 p.m. I'm ["fired up"]( to write the newsletter this morning and ready to roll. Let's get into it: - Let's start with masks. After the [change in the CDC guidance for vaccinated people]( earlier this week, Gov. Charlie Baker and his administration are still reviewing the data and talking with local experts to decide whether Massachusetts will follow suit in encouraging vaccinated people to mask up again indoors in areas of high transmission. We're expecting to hear a decision by the end of the week, according to Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. However, we do know this: Baker thinks Massachusetts is in a better spot than most states in terms of its preparation to deal with the variant and its vaccination rate, even though five counties fall under the CDC's high transmission threshold. - Meanwhile, the seven-day positive test rate in Massachusetts is just under 1.9% – more than double what it was only two weeks ago. The hospitalization rate, at 163 people, is the highest it's been in two months. - And the P-town COVID cluster [just keeps getting bigger](. Now, more than 830 confirmed cases have been linked to Provincetown. Of the cases, 501 are Massachusetts residents. There is some good news, though. The daily test positivity rate in the town has declined from 15% on July 15 to about 6% as of Tuesday. - On a happier note, the winners of the state's first vaccine lottery will be announced today. Don't worry; there are still four more chances to win $1 million or a scholarship, if you get your shots! In non-COVID news: - Massachusetts is trying to protect itself and its infrastructure in the face of climate change. The Baker administration yesterday [announced]( more than $17.3 million in grants aimed at helping repair failing dams, coastal infrastructure, and levees across the state. - 1st Lt. Thomas J. Redgate from Bourne, who was reported missing in action during the Korean War, has been [accounted]( for and is coming home for burial. - Last night, on the eve of the individual all-around final, USA Gymnastics announced that [Simone Biles will not compete]( today. The greatest-of-all-time gymnast is prioritizing her mental health. "[T]he outpouring love & support I've received has made me realize I'm more than my accomplishments and gymnastics which I never truly believed before," she said in a [tweet](. P.S.– Biles. Naomi Osaka. Michael Phelps. You don't need to be an Olympian with all eyes on you to be stressed, anxious or depressed. And like these athletes, you don't need to push through activities that will be harmful to your mental health because your worth is not tied to your productivity, and living through a pandemic has been extremely traumatic. It's OK if you're not OK. So whether you're trying to take care of your own mental health or supporting others around you, look though [this roundup of Life Kit episodes]( that focus on wellbeing. I think they may help. — Meagan McGinnes [@meaganmcginnes]( newsletters@wbur.org The Rundown [1.](url)[Mass. State House Remains Closed, Even As Other Buildings Open]( While most cities and towns have lifted the pandemic restrictions on their libraries and other buildings, the State House likely won't reopen to the public for at least another couple months. [Read more.](   #%23%23[Twitter](  #%23%23[Facebook](    2. [Healey, Baker Say It's Time To Stop Harm To Electric Consumers]( Electric customers in Massachusetts who switched to a competitive electric supplier paid $426 million more than they would have had they stayed with their utility company from July 2015 to June 2020, Healey's office said. [Read more.]( 3. [Lawsuit Alleges Mass. Prisons Use Faulty Test To Search For Drugs In Mail]( The suit says the tests often falsely indicate the presence of illegal drugs, resulting in sanctions against those incarcerated and attorneys being wrongly accused of sending drugs to their clients in prison. [Read more.]( 4. [The Economy Is Surging. These 4 Things Will Determine What Happens Next]( This morning, the Commerce Department is expected to report that gross domestic product grew around 8% in the period between April and June from a year earlier as the rollout of vaccines spurred a surge in economic activity. [Read more.]( 5. [Cutting Carbon Pollution Quickly Would Save Millions of Lives, Study Finds]( The study is the latest indication that climate change is deadly to humans, and that the benefits of transitioning to a cleaner economy could be profound. [Read more.]( Support the news Anything Else? - NPR answered the [extremely random questions people had about the Olympics]( and now I know why divers hit the showers immediately after they get out of the pool. - (Hey!), "Arthur" fans: The longest-running kids animated series in history will[end in early 2022]( after its 25th and final season. - From Shakespeare on the Common to a concert at Crane Estate, here are [five things to do this weekend.]( - We imperil our nation and jeopardize its growth if we fail to confront and learn from the entirety of the American experience, writes Roger Brooks [in this commentary]( no matter how painful or uncomfortable some parts of it may be. [WBUR] Your Daily Must Listen [How An Altered Strand Of DNA Can Cause Malaria-Spreading Mosquitoes To Self-Destruct]( [Listen]( TIPS & LIFE ADVICE [The Plastic Problem Isn't Your Fault, But You Can Be Part Of The Solution]( How To Help Your Garden And Plants After All This Rain. [Read more.]( With The Delta Variant Spreading Fast, Is It Time To Mask Up Again? [Read more.]( How To Heat Proof Your Summer Workout. [Read more.]( Want more tips to win at life – and your weekend? [Sign up for WBUR's Weekender newsletter.]( It will hit your inbox every Saturday morning. What We're Reading - Your Vaccinated Immune System Is Ready for Breakthroughs ([The Atlantic]( - Aly Raisman Still Wants Answers ([The New Yorker]( - The Tragic Case of the Wrong Thomas James ([GQ]( Tell Me Something Good [August Book-Ahead: What We're Excited To Read Next Month]( August can sometimes be a dull stretch when it comes to publishing — but not this year. Before you go: [This]( feels right. 😎 Forward to a friend. 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