Our nation passed another grim milestone this past week, with the number of dead from coronavirus climbing above 200,000 people. You have to be more than 100 years old to have seen an infectious disease more deadly than this in our country. We will soon double the number of Americans who died fighting World War 1. If the next six months are as deadly as the past six months, we will exceed the number of Americans who died fighting World War 2. In Somerville, 42 people have lost their lives, and that’s in less than six months. Let that sink in for a moment. If 42 people in our community died of anything else, we would be overwhelmed by the grief and constant calls for action. This is leaving a hole in our community we cannot fill. To all of those who have lost a loved one, you have my deepest sympathies. Know that we grieve with you and that we are trying our best to prevent this disease from taking more lives. And for everybody, the way to honor those who have passed and those who are grieving them is to take this virus seriously.
COVID-19 is an airborne disease that spreads through water droplets we exhale, cough and sneeze into the air around us. It is particularly effective at lingering in indoor environments. People can have the disease and not know it, which makes it very easy to pass on to others. Wear a face covering to limit what you put into the air for others to breathe in and maintain social distancing. It is incumbent on each of us to protect each other. The way we fight this disease is by working together to protect everyone. Please, make sure you’re taking the proper precautions to protect the lives of those around us.
Mayor Joseph A. Curtatone