Local COVID-19 updates

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 14 newly reported confirmed deaths (for a total of 8,389), 387 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 109,787), and 19,151 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 1,180,605), with a total of 1,535,835 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.0%. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (for a total of 220), 127 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 7,825), and 963 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 96,180). Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 14 new deaths (for a total of 8,609) and 514 new cases (for a total of 117,612).

The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 270.0 compared to 201.4 last week and 171.0 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 15.7 compared to 13.6 last week and 14.7 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 12,601.9 compared to 12,028.1 last week and 10,771.3 two weeks ago. The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 1.7% last week and 1.6% two weeks ago.
(The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)

More data issues are cropping up: the front page of today's daily dashboard includes the following note:

PLEASE NOTE: Delays in the reporting of test results to DPH from multiple laboratories, including large national commercial laboratories, are reflected in today's case counts. However, these positive test results have been assigned retrospectively to the appropriate date of test.

Despite the data woes, the day-over-day news is pretty good - case numbers going up isn't good, but there are slightly fewer (confirmed) deaths, lots more testing, and a nice drop in the percent-positive ratio. The weekly trends, on the other hand, still stink, with cases, deaths and percent-positive all going up.

Governor Baker is taking note of that positive test rate, warning people at his daily briefing that large gatherings are a recipe for disaster in the age of the coronavirus:
( cut to preserve your reading page )

A suggestion, Governor? If you really need to find more people to test, how about testing all the staff in all the hospitals on a periodic basis? And every patient that shows up in an emergency room, or is admitted? Or maybe periodic testing of all first responders?

The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3PM on July 28,the town reported 183 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 4 individuals in isolation, 158 recovered and 21 fatalities.