Mixed Messages On Where We Are In The Pandemic In Massachusetts

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh says the city will proceed to Phase 3 of reopening next Monday. That means businesses like gyms, movie theaters and museums can reopen. All will be limited to 25% capacity, as mandated by the state through Feb. 8.

Meanwhile, there are so many other mixed messages: new coronavirus variants that reduce vaccine efficacy, but expansion in the number of state vaccination sites to 165 next month. Plus, Phase 2 of vaccination starts next week, but federal supply of the vaccine is limited.

Are things getting better or worse? We ask Dr. Helen Boucher, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center, and a professor at the Tufts University School of Medicine, and Dr. Cassandra Pierre, infectious disease physician and the associate hospital epidemiologist at Boston Medical Center and Assistant Professor of Medicine at the Boston University School of Medicine.