COVID cases in Massachusetts are ticking up. Could it bring another surge? svscarpino says: “That seems to be less likely.' Instead Scarpino expects to see a 'swell.'
Although the overall numbers are still low compared to the height of the omicron surge, public health experts are noting the increases and calling for caution.
Scarpino said the situation will vary around the country, but in Massachusetts — with high rates of vaccination and likely high levels of natural immunity due to the original omicron wave — he expects to see a swell.“We may experience even more disruption in our day to day lives with a swell if we don't take action, just because it will persist for so much longer. You have teachers out of work, pilots and flight attendants out of work,” he said.
Second, it is a result of “everyone relaxing their mask wearing and being less careful about indoor activities,” said Robert Horsburgh, an infectious disease physician and a professor of epidemiology at Boston University.