Field Hospitals Coming Back As Hospitalizations Surge: Patch PM

Today is Wednesday, Nov. 11. Here are some of the top stories we're covering:

Massachusetts is preparing to bring back field hospitals as the state makes plans to handle the rising number of COVID-19 hospitalizations and worsening virus trends that Gov. Charlie Baker said show "no signs of changing."

Field hospitals were scattered across the state during the spring when the coronavirus was at its peak and strained health care capacity. Baker said space and need will help determine where they go this time around. More details are expected later in the week.

As of Tuesday, there were 618 people hospitalized with COVID-19 in Massachusetts, 150 of them in intensive care. Hospital capacity is up to 67 percent, while ICU capacity is up to 50 percent.

"COVID-19 has now been with us for the better part of a year and we've learned a lot about how to address this terrible virus. In addition to building a massive testing and tracing infrastructure, we've also executed on plans to better manage our health care systems during a pandemic," Baker said Tuesday. "Our experience from last spring shows that creating enough space to safely treat COVID-19 patients and other patients throughout our health care system is the single most important aspect we have in navigating the pandemic as safely as possible, and being prepared for every scenario is critical."

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Other top stories

Pike Shut Down After Wrong-Way Driver Crashes Into Ambulance

Four people were rushed to the hospital after a wrong-way driver crashed into an ambulance on the Massachusetts Turnpike early Wednesday morning.

Massachusetts State Police said a trooper spotted the driver going west, speeding and weaving in and out of traffic on the eastbound side of the Pike just after 3 a.m. in Newton.

Another trooper set up a tire deflation device, but before the wrong-way driver stopped, the car slammed into an ambulance near Exit 13 and the Natick service area.

Confederate Flag Not Welcome At Swampscott Protests: Officials

The Swampscott Select Board spoke out against protesters in the town brandishing "the Confederate flag, other intolerant and racist signs, and a megaphone spewing hate" in a condemnation of the some of persistent and often-confrontational rallies of recent months.

The Select Board members said in a joint statement Wednesday that while they welcome political speech in the town common "there is nothing normal — or acceptable — in these protesters' rhetoric."

"It is racist, hate-filled and ignorant," the statement said. "It is unwelcomed in our town."

Rhode Island Reports Record-Setting 919 New Coronavirus Cases

Rhode Island smashed its previous single-day coronavirus case record Tuesday with 919, far exceeding the previous record set just one day before.

Two of the state's weekly data trend indicators — new hospitalizations and cases per 100,000 people — are now above their safe thresholds, while the third, the percent positive rate, has inched closer and closer to five percent over the past month. Daily percent positive rate have frequently exceeded this value, including Tuesday's at 6.7 percent.

Megan Ranney, a doctor with Brown Emergency Medicine, said that medical systems in the U.S. are going to be overwhelmed in the coming weeks and months, because "there simply isn't enough capacity in the system."

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Kimberly Gunner and Andy Colbert were hit by a 17-year-old in August in the downtown Natick area.

Braintree Woman Competing In National Baking Competition

Braintree resident Melanie Anderson hopes to win the "Greatest Baker" competition, so she can use the prize money to open her own bakery.