As COVID cases rise, state officials fear a possible holiday surge

Officials in Massachusetts are worried about a possible surge of COVID-19 during the holiday season, after the number of new cases in a single day reached its highest point since February.

Health officials reported 3,196 new cases on Thursday. Education officials reported 3,257 new cases among public school students and 558 among staff members for the week that ended Wednesday, a record high for a single week, The Boston Globe reported.

A Boston Medical Center epidemiologist, Dr. Cassandra Pierre, told The Globe she's now more worried about Thanksgiving celebrations because the rise in cases is coming the week before a national holiday where people traditionally gather together with their family indoors.

Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration announced Thursday that all adults in Massachusetts are now eligible for COVID-19 vaccine booster shots.

In neighboring Rhode Island, Gov. Dan McKee also announced this week that all adults in the state would be eligible for a booster, given the high transmission rate and the approaching holiday season.