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10: Four Pittsfield postal employees test positive for COVID; city laments 'lack of cooperation'
Citing a "lack of cooperation" from officials at the post office, Pittsfield officials alerted the public in October that at least four employees of the Fenn Street facility had tested positive for COVID-19.
Citing a "lack of cooperation" from officials at the post office, Pittsfield officials alerted the public Friday afternoon that at least four employees of the Fenn Street facility have tested positive for COVID-19 in recent weeks.
9: Buddy system offered to boost vaccination for those 75 and older, including in Berkshire County
The hesitation and inability of seniors to get to vaccination sites early in the year prompted Massachusetts to institute the "buddy system" — offering vaccinations for those whose who were ineligible for vaccination at the current phase rollout who accompanied a senior to get their shots.
Anyone — but only one person — who accompanies a senior 75 or older to get a COVID-19 vaccine at some of the state's public vaccination sites …
8: Live in Massachusetts? Mask up, CDC guidelines say
In August, all counties in Massachusetts were classified by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention at a high or substantial level of community transmission, triggering CDC masking guidelines. Berkshire County is currently classified at a high level of community transmission, and masks are recommended indoors for vaccinated and unvaccinated residents.
All counties in Massachusetts are now classified by the CDC at a high or substantial level of community transmission.
7: Seven North Adams Commons residents die of COVID-19
In August, North Adams commons suffered an outbreak of COVID-19. By mid-August, 70 people had tested positive and seven residents died.
Seventy people have tested positive for COVID-19 in an outbreak at the North Adams Commons. Seven people have died.
6: Total COVID-19 cases at Springside nursing center in Pittsfield now top 100, with National Guard assisting with care
By January of this year, more than 100 residents and staff of Springside Rehabilitation and Skilled Care Center had contracted COVID-19, and members of the National Guard were assigned to the facility by the Department of Public Health to assist with care.
PITTSFIELD — More than 109 residents and staff have contracted COVID-19 inside a single Pittsfield nursing home. Cases accelerated in the past…
5: North Adams Commons COVID outbreak expands; Berkshire spread 'substantial'
Early reports of the outbreak of COVID-19 at North Adams Commons saw 45 positive cases, while the CDC elevated the transmission rate in the Berkshires to “substantial."
More than 40 percent of residents at North Adams Commons Nursing and Rehabilitation Center have tested positive for COVID-19 as the number of total cases reaches 45.
4. Pittsfield just enacted a masking directive. What does that mean?
In November, several municipalities in the Berkshires enacted masking directives. Following months of masking mandates at the start of the year, readers were curious: What's the difference?
As COVID-19 cases continue to rise in Berkshire County, Pittsfield has joined several South County municipalities in implementing masking directives. How is that different than a mandate? We break it down for you.
3. 120 Williams College students leaving campus after indoor party
In March, students who attended an indoor party at Williams College against state and college gathering restrictions were asked to leave campus and transition to remote learning. Williams College had to postpone its Phase Two rollout in response.
WILLIAMSTOWN — After an indoor party at Williams College last week broke state and campus rules, 120 students have left campus or are making a…
2. Great Barrington resident blocked from speaking against student masking at Berkshire Hills meeting
In August, a Great Barrington resident was blocked from speaking against masking mandates during a during a public comment period at the Berkshire Hills Regional School District’s School Committee’s meeting.
He came to speak out against mask mandates for children. He was stopped.
1. Those who penned Great Barrington Declaration a year after it sparked worldwide firestorm: 'This is our crucible'
On the one-year anniversary of the Great Barrington Declaration, some of those involved in the public health proposal spoke to The Eagle about their intentions, the fallout, pandemic data and the idea of “focused protection.”
It wasn't designed to be political. It was considered a well-established public health ethos based on science. But the anti-lockdown proposal stirred an emotional response around the world, and in the Berkshires.