Local COVID-19 updates

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 9 newly reported confirmed deaths (5 less than yesterday - down 35.7%) for a total of 9,010 deaths, 235 newly reported confirmed cases (32 less than yesterday - down 12.0%) for a total of 123,139 cases, and 12,201 new patients tested by molecular tests (99 more than yesterday - up 0.8%) for a total of 1,968,234 individuals tested, with a total of 3,038,625 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 1.9%, compared to 2.2% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 209 deaths, and 19 newly reported probable cases (same as yesterday) for a total of 1,941 cases. The state also reported 67 patients tested by antibody tests (222 less than yesterday - down 76.8%) for a total of 116,598 patients, and 992 patients tested by antigen tests (1,103 less than yesterday - down 52.6%) for a total of 109,470 patients. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 9 new deaths for a total of 9,219 and 254 new cases for a total of 125,080.

The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 299.0 compared to 323.1 last week (down 7.5%) and 337.6 two weeks ago (down 11.4%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 12.1 compared to 14.0 last week (down 13.3%) and 15.7 two weeks ago (down 22.7%). The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 14,385.7 compared to 19,252.3 last week (down 25.3%) and 21,541.4 two weeks ago (down 33.2%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.0% compared to 1.8% last week and 1.5% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)

Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the seven-day weighted average positive test rate is 0.8%, 1% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 12. The three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 315, 4% above the lowest observed value of 302 on August 29. The number of hospitals using surge capacity is 1, 1 above the lowest observed value of 0 on September 5. The three-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 13, 44% above the lowest observed value of 9 on September 7.

As ever, it's nice to see deaths and cases down, especially when tests are up and thus the percent-positive ratio is down. That said, I take Monday numbers with a grain of salt, knowing the weekend reporting tends to be lighter in volume than during the work week. I still don't like how the seven-day average percent-positive number is trending upward, though.

A pilot project to monitor coronavirus levels in the sewage treated at Deer Island by the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority is picking up increasing levels of the virus, rising to near the levels detected in the middle of May:
( Read more... )

Still well below the mid-April levels, but one more reason to be concerned (and another thing I'll start keeping an eye on henceforth).

The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 8AM on September 9, the town of Acton reported 200 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 3 individuals in isolation, 176 recovered and 21 fatalities.

Meanwhile, back in the tropics

As of 4:30 PM this afternoon, the National Hurricane Center is showing five named storms in the Atlantic basin: Paulette (hurricane, just hit Bermuda), Rene (the remnants thereof), Sally (hurricane, about to hit the Gulf Coast tomorrow), Teddy (strengthening tropical storm, well east of the Lesser Antilles), and Vicky (weakening tropical storm west of the Cabo Verde Islands).

Here's the NHC Atlantic Tropic Weather Discussion as of 1805 UTC:
( full text )

Just in case a global pandemic, major recession, and a Presidential election weren't enough to ruin your day.