Coronavirus Scrambles Mass Politics

Who could have foreseen a global novel coronavirus pandemic?

Well, apparently Bill Gates, for one. Now that it’s here, however, foresight is being thrown around left and right in the Bay State.

As the pace of coronavirus testing picks up in Massachusetts, the number of cases has more than doubled from just two days earlier.

By Thursday, the coronavirus had claimed 25 people and infected more than 2,400 people statewide — more than double the numbers from just two days prior. However, infectious disease experts warn that as testing expands it’s likely that the state will find that more than ten times that number are infected.

Hospitals in Massachusetts are already overwhelmed with critically ill patients. On the front lines of the battle to save as many lives as possible so far, more than 150 Boston hospital employees have tested positive for COVID-19.

The state is now seeking federal disaster assistance while seeing a twentyfold increase in filings for unemployment and epidemiologists telling the public that we probably won’t be ending this crisis anytime soon.

Aside from some light at the end of the tunnel with the passage of the $2 trillion economic rescue plan, here are some of the other ways COVID19 is impacting Mass. residents:

Bikes Considered “Essential” Mode of Transportation

Gov. Baker ordered “nonessential” businesses to close on Tuesday for obvious reasons. However, many bike shops will apparently remain open as the service has been officially deemed essential.

According to Streets Blog Mass:

“...in its definition of “essential services” that are allowed to remain in business, the Governor’s order includes ‘employees who repair and maintain vehicles, aircraft, rail equipment, marine vessels, and the equipment and infrastructure that enables operations that encompass movement of cargo and passengers.’”

Some bike shops have chosen to remain closed, however.

In related news, Boston and 4 other Massachusetts communities have offered hospital staff one month of free Bluebikes.

Emissions Are “Slightly” Down

“People still driving to work face a surreal scene on their commutes: no traffic,” writes WBUR reporter Barbara Moran. She quotes Massachusetts Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack saying that traffic has "in many cases literally evaporated overnight."

Recent data from MassDOT shows average travel times are about a third shorter than usual on I-93, and about half as long on I-90 west of Boston.

Interestingly, scientists at Boston University and Harvard claim the decrease is only slight. There has been “no significant decrease in carbon dioxide (CO2) or carbon monoxide (CO) emissions around Boston.”

Medical Marijuana: Essential; Recreational Cannabis: Not So Much

The governor’s emergency order to close down all non-essential services does not apply to medical marijuana shops according to a report in the Globe.

Unfortunately, for many casual users of the drug, the state’s 14 recreational pot shops are apparently considered non-essential by the governor. Cease and desist orders were even sent out. Recreational shop owners have protested the decision. Stay tuned.

National Guard Mobilized

Delivery services are becoming ubiquitous in the fight to halt the spread of the coronavirus. Even the Massachusetts National Guard has been called upon to deliver. Gov. Charlie Baker ordered the activation of up to 2,000 National Guard members, according to an article on MassLive.com.

Transportation units are now delivering supplies to hospitals and setting up screening tents at correction facilities.

Coronavirus Text Alert System Launched

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has announced the launch of a text alert system for important coronavirus news. Subscribers will receive one or two alerts a day about news, updates, public health tips and alerts on services, the governor said.

Residents can text “COVIDMA” to 888777 to sign up.

In other news

Bill Weld Throws in the Towel

Bill Weld, whom most of you know is a former Massachusetts Governor has dropped out of the 2020 presidential race clearing the field for President Trump’s reelection campaign.

Weld said in a statement:

"I hereby announce that I am suspending my candidacy for president of the United States, effective immediately. I am immensely grateful to all the patriotic women and men who have stood with me during the past eleven months in our effort to bring better government to Washington, D.C. Two years ago I became concerned enough about the future of this country to begin exploring the possibility of running for president. It is a job I feel certain I have the experience and vision to do."

The move comes following last Tuesdays’ Republican primaries in Florida, Arizona, and Illinois primaries in which Trump officially clinched the Republican nomination.

That Time Senator Elizabeth Warren Reshaped the Democratic Race

Senator Elizabeth Warren, after placing third in the Mass. Primary, has refocused on her US Senatorial duties.

Some say a particular moment in her campaign brought a change in tide to the Democratic race.

According to a post in the Globe:

“...history may most remember her candidacy… for her political disembowelment on national TV of billionaire Mike Bloomberg... She effectively ended his campaign in about 40 seconds. Her takedown of the eighth-richest man in the world not only made for exciting television, but it also instantly altered the political terrain and contributed to the rapid winnowing in the field’s moderate lane in favor of former vice president Joe Biden.”

Mass. Libertarian Party Ranks Swell

The Massachusetts Libertarian Party is apparently growing faster than any other party. According to the Eagle-Tribune, the party had 19,851 members as of Feb. 12., “a more than 130% increase from 2017 when it regained its party status, according to Secretary of State Bill Galvin’s office.”

The article credits dissatisfaction with the ruling parties as the reason for the surge in membership. Growth notwithstanding, Libertarians still account for only 0.43% of the Mass. electorate.