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Local COVID-19 updates
May. 25th, 2020 07:57 pmAs of 4PM this afternoon, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 44 more deaths from COVID-19 (for a total of 6,416 to date), 596 new cases (for a total of 93,271) and 8,188 more tests reported (for a total of 540,561). The ratio of new cases to new test results is 7.3%.
I'd be much more excited about the big drop in new deaths and cases if today wasn't the tail end of a long weekend; I've notice that the state's Monday numbers have tended to be lower than the Sunday ones, but the Tuesday numbers tend to jump up. (I suspect there's some amount of less-than-real-time reporting going on.)
Yesterday was the first Sunday that Massachusetts officially allowed houses of worship to reopen. My church did not; in fact, we're planning to have the buildings closed at least through the end of the summer. Considering how many so-called "superspreader" events have been associated with church services, I completely agree with that policy. Our typical service will include the entire congregation participating in one unison reading, one responsive reading, a sung affirmation, another sung benediction, and at least three hymns - plus at least two choral pieces. That's an awful lot of deep breathing and forceful exhalation in an enclosed space. (Not to mention that the state standards specifically prohibit childcare and post-service coffee hours, both of which feature prominently in our regular practice.)
We also received official word from the minister today that a second member of the congregation has died of COVID-19.
As usual, the town of Acton has yet to post an update today; yesterday at 9PM, the town reported 163 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 57 individuals in isolation, 85 recovered and 21 fatalities; those numbers were unchanged from the previous report.
I'd be much more excited about the big drop in new deaths and cases if today wasn't the tail end of a long weekend; I've notice that the state's Monday numbers have tended to be lower than the Sunday ones, but the Tuesday numbers tend to jump up. (I suspect there's some amount of less-than-real-time reporting going on.)
Yesterday was the first Sunday that Massachusetts officially allowed houses of worship to reopen. My church did not; in fact, we're planning to have the buildings closed at least through the end of the summer. Considering how many so-called "superspreader" events have been associated with church services, I completely agree with that policy. Our typical service will include the entire congregation participating in one unison reading, one responsive reading, a sung affirmation, another sung benediction, and at least three hymns - plus at least two choral pieces. That's an awful lot of deep breathing and forceful exhalation in an enclosed space. (Not to mention that the state standards specifically prohibit childcare and post-service coffee hours, both of which feature prominently in our regular practice.)
We also received official word from the minister today that a second member of the congregation has died of COVID-19.
As usual, the town of Acton has yet to post an update today; yesterday at 9PM, the town reported 163 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 57 individuals in isolation, 85 recovered and 21 fatalities; those numbers were unchanged from the previous report.