Melrose COVID-19 Increase 'Troubling,' Health Director Says

MELROSE, MA — Weekly coronavirus numbers have been trending downward in the city, but a recent uptick is concerning the health department.

Health Director Ruth Clay called the increase "troubling" in Tuesday night's Board of Health meeting. She didn't specify what the numbers were but said they were going back up across the state.

Clay said many of the clusters have been childcare-related or involve multiple people at one address.

She hopes people can show more patience until the numbers further decline.

"The cases we're getting are adults who are going out to dinner and getting together in groups. That's where the positives are. Then it goes to the kids," she said.

Vaccinations are helping bring the death rate down as the most vulnerable populations get inoculated, but Melrose and other local health departments won't be getting any more vaccines to administer to residents.

"The state has been very, very clear that they will no longer be giving vaccine to health departments," Clay said.

Massachusetts has shifted to prioritizing vaccinating people at mass and regional vaccination sites, as well as pharmacies and some hospitals.

Mayor Paul Brodeur said later Tuesday night the city would be able to turn around a vaccination clinic in 24 hours if they could get supply.

"The vaccine thing is nuts," he said on local talk show "Let's Talk Melrose, Melrose."

"One of the reasons why the process is frustrating is it's been taken away from local cities and towns," he continued.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.