Local COVID-19 updates

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 27 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 7,179 confirmed deaths), 261 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 99,562) and 7,808 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 648,616). The ratio of newly confirmed cases to molecular test results is 3.3%. The state reported zero probable deaths (for a total of 137), 43 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 3,874), and 5719 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 51,146). In total, the state reported 27 new deaths (for a total of 7,316) and 304 new cases (for a total of 103,436).

Daily deaths down, new cases down, percentage of test positive down, and a big chunk of businesses reopening tomorrow - all great news, right? Not completely. Both the "numbers of hospitals using surge capacity" and "three-day average of COVID-19 deaths" ticked upward. And I've noticed a pattern in Massachusetts' data of declines over the weekend followed by a jump on Tuesdays.

I also want to note today's Boston Globe editorial, Massachusetts, let's get more ambitious with coronavirus testing:
( more testing of cut tags to save your reading page )

I'm with the Globe editorial board on this one. Not only do we need more testing to snuff out new clusters of infections before they grown, we're one of the few states in the country that could. If there was sufficient political will, that is.

As of 9AM this morning, the town of Acton is reporting 171 cumulative cases with 33 individuals in isolation, 117 persons recovered and 21 fatalities.