Page 18 THE EVERETT ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, APRIL 2, 2021 ~ BOOK REVIEW ~ Building a life together Life priorities for newlyweds F or future brides and grooms and recent newlyweds, combining assets under one roof takes more than a moving van and space for all their belongings. Every couple planning to build a life together should take prudent actions to protect their future. The months leading up to a wedding can be one of the most exciting times in a person's life. They can also be one of the most stressful. From finding the perfect venue to planning the reception, the long list of wedding to-dos can seem never ending. The wedding itself though is not the only thing couples need to consider before their big day. There are other vital tasks that should be completed in order to ensure not only the perfect wedding, but also the perfect start to a marriage. “Securing life insurance should be one of the first priorities for newlyweds but is often, perhaps understandably, overlooked,” said Timothy Heslin, Interim Head of AIG Life US. “However, if you pass away unexpectedly and don’t have coverage, your spouse could become responsible for your student loans, car payments, credit card debt and mortgage. Investing in a life insurance policy is one of the best ways to protect your partner against a financial crisis if something were to happen to you.” While many couples choose to wait to purchase life insurance until, for example, after the birth of their first child, this could cost them in the long run. “Keep in mind that the younger you are when you get life insurance, the lower your monthly payments can be,” said Heslin. “By locking in an affordable rate, you could save thousands of dollars over the course of your lifetime. For more information on AIG Life insurance products and basics, visit https://www.lifeandretirement.aig.com/life-iq. State COVID-19 pooled testing finds 0.7 percent positivity rate in schools T he Baker-Polito Administration recently announced that data collected from its statewide, first-in-thenation pooled testing initiative in schools across the Commonwealth found low positivity rates – far less than one percent – among students and staff. The statewide testing program, which is funded entirely by the Commonwealth and available to every Massachusetts public school at no cost, was extended through the school year. Launched in February and the first program of its kind nationwide, Massachusetts schools have tested nearly 159,000 individuals in 22,679 pools with a pool positivity rate of 0.76 percent to date; because the average pool included seven people, individual prevalence among those tested is well below that number. More than 1,000 schools are enrolled in the COVID-19 pooled testing initiative, and more than 329,000 students, educators and staff are eligible to be tested on a weekly basis. Of the collected pooled tests, the Commonwealth is not aware of any in which there was more than one positive individual, suggesting that there is extremely little evidence of in-school transmission of COVID-19 in Massachusetts. The test is performed at least once per week on an anterior nasal swab, and results are delivered within 24 hours. If a pooled test result is negative, then all individuals within that pool are presumed negative and may continue to remain in school. If a pooled test result is positive, then everyone in the pool is given an individual diagnostic test. Once positive individuals are identified, they must follow isolation guidance. Students, teachers and staff that were close contacts of the positive individual must quarantine according to current requirements. According to a study conducted by The Rockefeller Foundation and released in December 2020, community outbreak had not been traced to an elementary school, with contact tracing studies concluding that children are almost never the source in inTESTING | SEE PAGE 25 For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 617-387-2200 or Info@advocatenews.net
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