Lynn Mayor Thomas M. McGee said the city is actively using several weapons at its disposal to fight COVID-19. But is the city and its leadership doing enough to check the deadly virus and eliminate its spread throughout the city?
Let’s consider some grim facts: A city resident died every day between Nov. 16 and Nov. 19 from COVID-19 as the city’s caseload soared from 6,660 to 6,881 cases. Lynn ended last week with the city’s COVID-19 case rate climbing above the 7,000-case mark and 129 deaths attributed to the virus.
The city’s positive test rate climbed from Nov. 6 to Nov. 20 to 9.14 percent — the sixth-highest in the state, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The worry for Lynn and every American community is that experts on the pandemic agree that case rates will climb even higher following Thanksgiving gatherings and intensified travel.
McGee has already expressed concern about a holiday virus spread and bluntly warned city residents in a Daily Item article published on Tuesday, “don’t see anybody.”
As if anticipating the potential for a holiday spread, McGee pointed the finger at small social gatherings as the primary reason for the city’s high case rate. He said contact tracing to match people who test positive for COVID-19 with people they have been around supports his conclusion about the virus’ spread.
“Complacence,” said the mayor, is to blame for people not following basic COVID-19 protection rules, including mask wearing, social distancing, and hand washing.
If COVID-19 is spreading and killing people on the homefront then the question should be asked: Is the city doing enough to enlist Lynn residents on the homefront to fight the virus?
The city is waging the fight: Community care coordinators are in neighborhoods reminding people to follow protection rules. Electronic signs flashing the rules have been posted on Walnut Street and other locations around the city and inspectors are ensuring restaurants follow anti-virus precautions.
But are those measures enough in the face of a holiday surge? Should a significantly-expanded public awareness campaign be mounted with Christmas a month away? Does the city need to reach out to every Lynn household and remind people directly to take responsibility for stopping the virus’ spread?
If ever there was a right time for the city to launch a visible and concentrated effort to stop COVID-19 in its tracks, now is that time and now is the time for decisive leadership in the war against COVID-19.
