Revere calls it all off
As virus cases climb, city events go overboard – including graduation
Standing against a backdrop of ambulances and flanked by doctors and school leaders, Revere Mayor Brian Arrigo took off his mask to deliver the solemn news — no in-person graduation, no full return to the classroom this fall and no city-sponsored events until coronavirus numbers improve.
“We are most concerned about our recent uptick in positive cases and increasing positive test rates that are much higher than the state’s average,” Arrigo said in a press conference Thursday outside Revere High School. “Until our numbers improve and until the data says so, we will continue to have to make incredibly difficult decisions — but they are necessary.”
Arrigo’s announcement came less than 24 hours after the mayor learned his city’s 14-day positivity rate remained above 6% — roughly three times the state’s average — making Revere again one of the state’s COVID-19 hot spots.
After several conversations with his city’s emergency response team, Arrigo decided to suspend all adult recreational programs and city-sponsored events, including the upcoming Fall Festival, until further notice. And, in another blow to the Class of 2020, he canceled the in-person graduation ceremony slated for this upcoming Tuesday.
“It is incredibly difficult for me to have to ultimately decide that we cannot responsibly bring 1,500 residents and people to a single site given the information in the data that we have today,” Arrigo said, promising an alternative ceremony.
Revere Public Schools students will also learn remotely until coronavirus data improves — a plan expected to be formalized by the School Committee next week. Revere Superintendent Dianne Kelly said she’s working to provide some in-person programming for special-needs students and English language learners.
The decision makes Revere the latest district to reject the possibility of a full return to the classroom in favor of remote or hybrid models despite the state’s push to bring kids back to school.
City officials blamed their recent uptick in cases on the large gatherings that are creating coronavirus clusters in cities across the state. A Revere resident who contracted the virus at work spread it to 20 family members and friends at various social gatherings, Board of Health chairwoman and Massachusetts General Hospital physician Dr. Nathalee
Kong said, warning that infected individuals can easily become “super spreaders.”
Revere will launch an awareness campaign this weekend targeting Revere Beach, faith communities and Spanish- and Portugesespeaking residents as part of its coronavirus crackdown.
And Arrigo is urging residents to get tested — getting swabbed himself Thursday as another day of testing got underway in the high school’s parking lot.