![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Local COVID-19 updates
Sep. 21st, 2020 05:47 pmAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 7 newly reported confirmed deaths (8 less than yesterday - down 53.3%) for a total of 9,107 deaths, 244 newly reported confirmed cases (96 less than yesterday - down 28.2%) for a total of 125,723 cases, and 10,823 new patients tested by molecular tests (6,576 less than yesterday - down 37.8%) for a total of 2,096,043 individuals tested, with a total of 3,436,161 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.3%, compared to 2.0% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 210 deaths, and 12 newly reported probable cases (7 less than yesterday - down 36.8%) for a total of 2,073 cases. The state also reported 75 patients tested by antibody tests (145 less than yesterday - down 65.9%) for a total of 118,364 patients, and 1,122 patients tested by antigen tests (286 less than yesterday - down 20.3%) for a total of 119,095 patients. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 7 new deaths for a total of 9,317 and 256 new cases for a total of 127,796.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 369.1 compared to 299.0 last week (up 23.5%) and 323.1 two weeks ago (up 14.2%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.9 compared to 12.1 last week (up 14.1%) and 14.0 two weeks ago (down 1.0%). The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 18,258.4 compared to 14,385.7 last week (up 26.9%) and 19,252.3 two weeks ago (down 5.2%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 2.0% last week and 1.8% 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%, 0% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 20. The three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 364, 21% 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 14, 50% above the lowest observed value of 9 on September 7.
The day-to-day drop in deaths and cases would be much more impressive if we weren't coming off a weekend - or if the drop in tests wasn't so much bigger, driving up the percentage of people testing positive. The seven-day averages are, for the most part, going in the wrong direction (cases trending strongly up, deaths climbing, and percent-positive continuing to climb), and the "key metric" of patients in hospital continuing a week-long rise.
Meanwhile, in "WTF is the CDC doing now" news, on Friday they updated their How COVID-19 Spreads page to include both "respiratory droplets" and "small aerosols" as transmission vectors:
(from the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, at https://web.archive.org/web/20200919084809/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html)
Today, they rolled that change back, removing the language about aerosols and poorly ventilated indoor enviroments. This, of course, was noticed by the media:
( Read more... )
I suppose I should be used to the Trump Adminstration screwing up official medical advice because The Donald doesn't think said advice makes him look sufficiently wonderful. But, still, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:45PM on September 16, the town of Acton reported 202 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 2 individuals in isolation, 179 recovered and 21 fatalities.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 369.1 compared to 299.0 last week (up 23.5%) and 323.1 two weeks ago (up 14.2%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.9 compared to 12.1 last week (up 14.1%) and 14.0 two weeks ago (down 1.0%). The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 18,258.4 compared to 14,385.7 last week (up 26.9%) and 19,252.3 two weeks ago (down 5.2%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 2.0% last week and 1.8% 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%, 0% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 20. The three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 364, 21% 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 14, 50% above the lowest observed value of 9 on September 7.
The day-to-day drop in deaths and cases would be much more impressive if we weren't coming off a weekend - or if the drop in tests wasn't so much bigger, driving up the percentage of people testing positive. The seven-day averages are, for the most part, going in the wrong direction (cases trending strongly up, deaths climbing, and percent-positive continuing to climb), and the "key metric" of patients in hospital continuing a week-long rise.
Meanwhile, in "WTF is the CDC doing now" news, on Friday they updated their How COVID-19 Spreads page to include both "respiratory droplets" and "small aerosols" as transmission vectors:
COVID-19 most commonly spreads
* Between people who are in close contact with one another (within about 6 feet).
* Through respiratory droplets or small particles, such as those in aerosols, produced when an infected person coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes.
* These particles can be inhaled into the nose, mouth, airways, and lungs and cause infection. This is thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
* Droplets can also land on surfaces and objects and be transferred by touch. A person may get COVID-19 by touching the surface or object that has the virus on it and then touching their own mouth, nose, or eyes. Spread from touching surfaces is not thought to be the main way the virus spreads.
* It is possible that COVID-19 may spread through the droplets and airborne particles that are formed when a person who has COVID-19 coughs, sneezes, sings, talks, or breathes. There is growing evidence that droplets and airborne particles can remain suspended in the air and be breathed in by others, and travel distances beyond 6 feet (for example, during choir practice, in restaurants, or in fitness classes). In general, indoor environments without good ventilation increase this risk.
(from the Internet Archive Wayback Machine, at https://web.archive.org/web/20200919084809/https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/how-covid-spreads.html)
Today, they rolled that change back, removing the language about aerosols and poorly ventilated indoor enviroments. This, of course, was noticed by the media:
( Read more... )
I suppose I should be used to the Trump Adminstration screwing up official medical advice because The Donald doesn't think said advice makes him look sufficiently wonderful. But, still, Whiskey Tango Foxtrot.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:45PM on September 16, the town of Acton reported 202 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 2 individuals in isolation, 179 recovered and 21 fatalities.