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Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 14th, 2020 04:43 pmAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 14 newly reported confirmed deaths (7 less than yesterday) for a total of 8,582 deaths, 212 newly reported confirmed cases (107 less than yesterday) for a total of 113,729 cases, and 21,552 new patients tested by molecular tests (6,327 less than yesterday) for a total of 1,402,730 individuals tested, with a total of 1,853,032 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 1.0%, compared to 1.1% yesterday. The state also reported 618 patients tested by antibody tests (173 less than yesterday) for a total of 104,191 and 1,608 patients tested by antigen tests (926 more than yesterday) for a total of 64,773.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 268.0 compared to 295.1 last week and 270.0 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.4 compared to 14.1 last week and 15.7 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 17,873.3 compared to 13,858.9 last week and 12,601.9 two weeks ago. The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 1.6% compared to 2.1% last week and 2.1% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Better news today for the day-by-day numbers; deaths, cases and percent-positive all down, and tests (although down) are still above 20,000. The week-by-week numbers are also trending better, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity ticked down by one to four. Also probably worth noting: the state started reporting antigen tests; according to the new daily report's "Glossary of Terms", a COVID-19 antigen test "identifies the presence of proteins on the surface of the virus. These diagnostic tests are somewhat less accurate (i.e., low sensitivity) than molecular tests but a positive result is suggestive of current infection." I don't see immediately where in the raw data I can get the results of those tests, only the total counts; still, since the counts are now available, I'll start including them.
Meanwhile, Hawaii has been removed from the Commonwealth's list of COVID-19 lower-risk states effective today, and thus people coming to Massachusetts from the Aloha State have to go through the 14 day quarantine process. It's not surprising, given that there's been a big surge in cases and percent-positive in the last few days; currently the COVID Exit Strategy website has Hawaii coded as "uncontrolled spread" with cases surging by 210% in the last 14 days, 156 new cases per million per day, and 9.9% of COVID-19 tests coming back positive. (Massachusetts' criteria for "lower-risk" states are less than six new cases per 100,000 per day and less than 5% positive tests, as reported on the COVID Exit Strategy site. Only New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine meet those criteria.)
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 10:45AM on August 10, the town of Acton reported 187 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 4 individuals in isolation, 162 recovered and 21 fatalities.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 268.0 compared to 295.1 last week and 270.0 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.4 compared to 14.1 last week and 15.7 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 17,873.3 compared to 13,858.9 last week and 12,601.9 two weeks ago. The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 1.6% compared to 2.1% last week and 2.1% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Better news today for the day-by-day numbers; deaths, cases and percent-positive all down, and tests (although down) are still above 20,000. The week-by-week numbers are also trending better, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity ticked down by one to four. Also probably worth noting: the state started reporting antigen tests; according to the new daily report's "Glossary of Terms", a COVID-19 antigen test "identifies the presence of proteins on the surface of the virus. These diagnostic tests are somewhat less accurate (i.e., low sensitivity) than molecular tests but a positive result is suggestive of current infection." I don't see immediately where in the raw data I can get the results of those tests, only the total counts; still, since the counts are now available, I'll start including them.
Meanwhile, Hawaii has been removed from the Commonwealth's list of COVID-19 lower-risk states effective today, and thus people coming to Massachusetts from the Aloha State have to go through the 14 day quarantine process. It's not surprising, given that there's been a big surge in cases and percent-positive in the last few days; currently the COVID Exit Strategy website has Hawaii coded as "uncontrolled spread" with cases surging by 210% in the last 14 days, 156 new cases per million per day, and 9.9% of COVID-19 tests coming back positive. (Massachusetts' criteria for "lower-risk" states are less than six new cases per 100,000 per day and less than 5% positive tests, as reported on the COVID Exit Strategy site. Only New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine meet those criteria.)
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 10:45AM on August 10, the town of Acton reported 187 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 4 individuals in isolation, 162 recovered and 21 fatalities.