How a COVID "swell" differs from a wave

Also: Why some Mass. companies are still tied up in Russia; takeaways from the House budget plan [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 14, 2022 ☁️ Mostly cloudy, with a high near 58. Good Morning Boston, Happy Thursday. The Boston Marathon finish line is [getting ready]( for Monday. But are you ready for today? We can help. To the news: - Not a wave, but a "swell." That's what some experts expect from the current uptick in COVID-19 cases — driven by omicron subvariant known as BA.2 — in Massachusetts. - WBUR's Gabrielle Emanuel reports that most disease experts don't think we're headed toward another sharp spike in cases and hospitalizations that puts pressure on hospitals. For example, [Newton's own]( Dr. Ashish Jha, the White House's new COVID response coordinator, [recently said]( he's "not overly concerned" about the uptick, given the levels of immunity in the U.S. from the vaccines or previous infection. - However, some think the gradual increase could persist longer than other waves, given the contagiousness of BA.2 and lack of virtually any of the previous pandemic restrictions. And that could still result in big disruptions like staffing shortages for schools and airlines, according to Sam Scarpino, of the Rockefeller Foundation's Pandemic Prevention Institute. - To better monitor the increase, the CDC [announced Wednesday]( that it is extending its transportation mask order until May 3, meaning face coverings will continue to be required on ride-shares and public transit — from Uber to the MBTA to Logan airport — for at least another three weeks. The mandate was otherwise scheduled to expire this Monday. - House leaders released their [nearly $50 billion state budget]( for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday, proposing a $2 billion boost on this year's spending and $1.4 billion more than Gov. Charlie Baker proposed earlier this year. It's a mammoth piece of legislation aimed at "[building the middle class]( according to House Ways and Means Chair Aaron Michlewitz. But here are some notable items included: - Eliminates all [fees for phone calls]( for people in prisons. - Extends universal free school lunches for another year, since federal funding for the program is [set to expire this summer](. - Fully finances the 2019 school funding reform law (which has been [a point of contention in recent years](. - Invests several hundred million dollars into rental housing aid. - Puts over $785 million into the state's rainy day fund. - What the proposed budget does not include: the [tax cuts]( Baker has been pushing for. House Speaker Ron Mariano said he doesn't think they're necessary right now. - Heads up: the Baker administration is sponsoring over a dozen COVID vaccine and booster clinics at "family-friendly" events across Massachusetts next week during school vacation. - The clinics include giveaways for any resident who gets a shot, ranging from $25 gift cards to free bowling. There are also amusement park locations, like the Six Flags clinic, which gives two free entry passes, free parking and a free meal (plus, you know, increased immunity against COVID) for any Bay Stater who gets a first or second dose or booster. Check out [the full list of clinics here](. - State officials say the April vacation clinics build on the success of those held during February school vacation week, when more than 2,000 vaccine doses were administered to children and adults in hard-hit communities. - The two-year-long UMass tuition freeze has officially thawed. Leaders on Wednesday approved their first tuition hike for the four non-medical campuses since before the pandemic, meaning students will have to pay $346-$395 more next year, plus additional room and board price increases. [Get a detailed breakdown by school here.]( - PSA: Massachusetts residents have until Tuesday to file their taxes ([one day later compared to most states]( due to Patriots' Day). But if you still have not filed yet, you might consider applying for a six-month extension. - Tax experts say that [filing an extension is easy, although there are some important caveats](. P.S.— WBUR is researching potential stories on domestic and sexual violence. If you have an experience to share that could help inform our coverage, please [take a look at this form](. All responses will be kept confidential, and we will make sure to read every one of them. Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [As companies vow to sever ties in Russia, a clean break proves complicated]( Local companies have promised to leave Russia since the start of the Ukraine invasion, but many are still there. [Read more.]( [As companies vow to sever ties in Russia, a clean break proves complicated]( Local companies have promised to leave Russia since the start of the Ukraine invasion, but many are still there. [Read more.]( [MBTA hasn't offered condolences after Red Line death, says victim's family]( The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating what caused a Red Line train to drag Robinson Lalin to his death early Sunday. [Read more.]( [MBTA hasn't offered condolences after Red Line death, says victim's family]( The National Transportation Safety Board is still investigating what caused a Red Line train to drag Robinson Lalin to his death early Sunday. [Read more.]( [Boston lures workers back downtown with DJs, food trucks and — free Dunks]( Many offices in downtown Boston remain mostly empty, even though the city has eliminated its pandemic restrictions on businesses. Now, the city is trying to entice remote workers to come back. [Read more.]( [Boston lures workers back downtown with DJs, food trucks and — free Dunks]( Many offices in downtown Boston remain mostly empty, even though the city has eliminated its pandemic restrictions on businesses. Now, the city is trying to entice remote workers to come back. [Read more.]( [Police search for motive in Brooklyn subway suspect's videos]( An erratic work history, arrests for low-level crimes, stored ammo and hours of rambling, bigoted, profanity-laced videos posted online so far aren't providing answers to the shootings. [Read more.]( [Police search for motive in Brooklyn subway suspect's videos]( An erratic work history, arrests for low-level crimes, stored ammo and hours of rambling, bigoted, profanity-laced videos posted online so far aren't providing answers to the shootings. [Read more.]( [With emergency rental aid window closing, advocates warn of impacts]( Massachusetts residents will no longer be able to apply for housing aid covered by the federal rental assistance program after this Friday. [Read more.]( [With emergency rental aid window closing, advocates warn of impacts]( Massachusetts residents will no longer be able to apply for housing aid covered by the federal rental assistance program after this Friday. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - The Boston Marathon and Easter aren't the only big events coming up this weekend. WBUR's arts and culture team has [five other things to do]( including a sculpture festival and one of the longest-running LGBTQ+ film festivals in North America. - Music critic Charley Ruddell [reviews the surrealist new album from the indie Boston band Vundabar](. - Steve Almond [writes in this commentary]( that there's "something fundamentally tragic" about football great Herschel Walker's campaign for Senate. What We're Reading 📚 - For better or worse, there’s little room for bandits in the Boston Marathon anymore ([Boston.com]( - Why non-Western countries tend to see Russia's war very, very differently ([MSNBC]( - Bon Appétit Wants to Give You Botulism ([Gawker]( Tell Me Something Good [One-Eyed 'Highly Intelligent' Llama Up For Adoption In Massachusetts (WBZ)]( Hyacinth, the 10-year-old one-eyed llama, is looking for a loving home after undergoing extensive surgery at Tufts to remove her right eye. [Read more.]( [One-Eyed 'Highly Intelligent' Llama Up For Adoption In Massachusetts (WBZ)]( Hyacinth, the 10-year-old one-eyed llama, is looking for a loving home after undergoing extensive surgery at Tufts to remove her right eye. [Read more.]( Before you go: [Controversial opinion in New England](. 😎 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   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 WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.