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Local COVID-19 updates
Dec. 8th, 2020 05:54 pmAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 40 newly reported confirmed deaths (10 more than yesterday - up 33.3%) for a total of 10,833 deaths, 3,627 newly reported confirmed cases (1,164 more than yesterday - up 47.3%) for a total of 253,649 cases, and 58,501 newly reported molecular tests (15,197 more than yesterday - up 35.1%). The seven day average positivity rate is 5.81%, compared to 5.46% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 7.76%, compared to 7.44% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 58,601 (149 more than yesterday - up 0.3%). The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (same as yesterday) for a total of 243 and 495 newly reported probable cases (477 more than yesterday - up 2,650.0%) for a total of 9,798. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 41 new deaths for a total of 11,076 and 4,122 new cases for a total of 263,447. There were 1,552 COVID-19 patients in hospital (36 more than yesterday - up 2.4%), 310 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (8 more than yesterday - up 2.6%) and 166 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (13 more than yesterday - up 8.5%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,247 (262 less than yesterday - down 7.5%), 1,968% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 26% below the highest observed value of 4,332 on December 4. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 5.8% (0 more than yesterday - up 6.5%), 650% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 79% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,413 (52 more than yesterday - up 3.8%), 811% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 64% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 36 (2 more than yesterday - up 5.9%), 227% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 80% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,756, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 22, the 7 day hospitalization average was 909, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.0% (or 4.63% excluding higher education).
JFC. Day-to-day deaths and cases both up hugely (although yesterday's cases were probably depressed due to weekend reporting effects). Positivity continuing to climb, active cases continuing to climb, and hospitalization counts continuing to climb.
Governor Baker finally took some small amount of action in response to the rapidly rising case, hospitalization, and death counts in the state ... by reverting to Phase 3 Step 1 (where we were back in July), with a couple of other tweaks:
( Read more... )
This is an awfully small step (although folks running Phase 3 Step 2 businesses might disagree). There are already 58 cities and towns on the state's "not designated lower risk" list which already had reverted to Phase 3 Step 1 because they'd been in the red zone on the weekly reports for the past three weeks. That number is almost certainly going to go up when Thursday's weekly report comes out, given how case counts and (especially) positivity keep climbing; it would only be a matter of time before most of the state was in the red zone again.
Even then, he's still keeping indoor dining available, and that's the source of way too many superspreader events. I have to think Baker's main goal here is to be seen to Do Something without actually putting hard brakes on the restaurant business. I hope for his (and our) sake this action will be effective enough, but I really doubt it will; as long as restaurants are open for dining without each table having completely separate ventilation, I can't see the spread of this virus slowing down any time soon.
The town of Acton just released a new "newsflash style update" at 4PM on December 8; this reported 389 cumulative cases with 60 individuals in isolation, 307 persons recovered and 22 fatalities. (I'm not sure how that case count is down from the 415 I saw yesterday, but it apparently is.)
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,247 (262 less than yesterday - down 7.5%), 1,968% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 26% below the highest observed value of 4,332 on December 4. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 5.8% (0 more than yesterday - up 6.5%), 650% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 79% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,413 (52 more than yesterday - up 3.8%), 811% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 64% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 36 (2 more than yesterday - up 5.9%), 227% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 80% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,756, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 22, the 7 day hospitalization average was 909, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.0% (or 4.63% excluding higher education).
JFC. Day-to-day deaths and cases both up hugely (although yesterday's cases were probably depressed due to weekend reporting effects). Positivity continuing to climb, active cases continuing to climb, and hospitalization counts continuing to climb.
Governor Baker finally took some small amount of action in response to the rapidly rising case, hospitalization, and death counts in the state ... by reverting to Phase 3 Step 1 (where we were back in July), with a couple of other tweaks:
( Read more... )
This is an awfully small step (although folks running Phase 3 Step 2 businesses might disagree). There are already 58 cities and towns on the state's "not designated lower risk" list which already had reverted to Phase 3 Step 1 because they'd been in the red zone on the weekly reports for the past three weeks. That number is almost certainly going to go up when Thursday's weekly report comes out, given how case counts and (especially) positivity keep climbing; it would only be a matter of time before most of the state was in the red zone again.
Even then, he's still keeping indoor dining available, and that's the source of way too many superspreader events. I have to think Baker's main goal here is to be seen to Do Something without actually putting hard brakes on the restaurant business. I hope for his (and our) sake this action will be effective enough, but I really doubt it will; as long as restaurants are open for dining without each table having completely separate ventilation, I can't see the spread of this virus slowing down any time soon.
The town of Acton just released a new "newsflash style update" at 4PM on December 8; this reported 389 cumulative cases with 60 individuals in isolation, 307 persons recovered and 22 fatalities. (I'm not sure how that case count is down from the 415 I saw yesterday, but it apparently is.)