PEABODY — As 2020 draws to a close, about 90 percent of the 221 deaths in the city as of Dec. 28 were persons aged 70 and up with approximately 73 percent in the 80 and up group.
Sadly, while the average age of persons contracting the virus has ranged between about 37 to 43 years since July, the number of deaths among those living in long-term care facilities continues to account for more than 80 percent of all deaths in the city.
Nonetheless, Peabody Health Director Sharon Cameron says there is good reason to feel optimistic.
“Early on, part of what contributed to the outbreak in these facilities was that PPE was not widely available and they did not have adequate testing capacities,” she said. “A lot of staff also worked multiple facilities or also did home care, which increased the chances for exposure. Right now, however, that has changed, and also now that these residents are prioritized for the vaccine, we are hoping that they will all be vaccinated as we head into January, so yes, there is room for optimism.”
COVID-19 dominated Peabody news in 2020 with Michelle Hnath, a 42 year-old nurse becoming one of the first 15 frontline workers to be vaccinated on Dec. 16.
Mayor Ted Bettencourt announced shortly before Christmas that he had tested positive for the virus.
Almost 1,000 Peabody businesses received $109 million in aid to shore up 11,000 local jobs. The loans ranged from $800 to $6.3 million with the average loan being $113,429.
In other city news:
— At Peabody High School, a special needs teacher’s police memorial located in the hallway outside his classroom sparked controversy.
— In November, Citizens Inn Executive Director Corey Jackson was elected president of the Peabody Area Chamber of Commerce. Beth Amico stepped up as the Chamber’s Executive Director, succeeding Julie Daigle.
— Also in November, Sally Kerans was elected state representative for the 13th Essex district, part of which includes West Peabody, succeeding Ted Speliotis.
— One of Peabody High’s most accomplished graduates — Dr. Ruth Shoer Rappaport — left what is believed to be the largest gift ever to the school district. Rappaport, who died in Philadelphia April 28 at the age of 83, left a $935,000 bequest in her will.
— Residents in South Peabody breathed a sigh of relief in October after the Peabody Municipal Light Plant reached an agreement with Verizon. Under the agreement, Verizon agreed to abandon its plans to install large-scale cell antenna towers in favor of using wireless communication devices on existing utility poles.
— The first day of August was a banner day for the district, as, following a three-month postponement, Peabody High held graduation exercises.
— On May 7, Hemisphere Development obtained site approval for the 133-unit 40B housing development it is planning to build on King Street on the site of the former J.B. Thomas Hospital.
— The city got bad news in early February when the Massachusetts State Building Authority denied the district’s request for funding for improvements to Peabody High and the West, South and Center elementary schools.
— The year began with Allyson Danforth sworn in as the new city clerk, succeeding Tim Spanos, whose service to the city spanned 43 years.
