Local COVID-19 updates

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 14 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 8,095), 167 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 105,457), and 7,597 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 940,393), with a total of 1,199,411 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.2%. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (for a total of 215), 121 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 5,941), and 988 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 80,061). Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 14 new deaths (for a total of 8,310) and 288 new cases (for a total of 111,398).

Deaths down, so yay. But cases up while tests are down? Bad - and thus the jump in percentage of positive tests. Unsurprisingly, the seven-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate ticked up today; in slightly better news, the three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital ticked back down.

The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 5:30PM on July 9, the town reported 178 cumulative cases of COVID-19 with 5 individuals in isolation, 152 recovered and 21 fatalities.

I should be on Star Island right now...

I should be on Star Island right now, for the All Star 2 conference that I've been attending for well over a decade now. Of course, I'm not. The entire 2020 conference season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

I am firmly convinced that the cancellation was exactly the right thing to do, given the circumstances.

I am equally firmly convinced that it sucks.