Local COVID-19 updates

[edschweppe]

As of 4PM this afternoon, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 78 more deaths from COVID-19 (for a total of 6,718 to date), 617 new cases (for a total of 95,512) and 9,422 more tests reported (for a total of 571,745). The ratio of new cases to new test results is 6.5%.

Of the headline numbers, the daily death and new case counts finally went in the right direction after rising over the last couple of days. Two of the averages in the "Dashboard of Public Health Indicators" dropped slightly (seven-day positive test rate and three-day hospitalized patient averages), while the other two remained flat (number of hospitals using surge capacity and three-day average death count).

The Boston Globe's coverage of Governor Baker's daily coronavirus press briefing concentrated on the possible rules for restaurants reopening for on-premises service, which conceivably could occur on June 8. (Spoiler alert: outdoors only at first.)

Massachusetts restaurants can offer only outdoor dining when they’re first allowed to reopen their doors for in-person service, according to guidelines Governor Charlie Baker released Friday that will reshape how the industry operates amid the coronavirus pandemic.

The highly anticipated rules don’t specify exactly when restaurants can begin service within Phase Two of Baker’s reopening plan, but it could be as early as June 8, should the state avoid any spikes in COVID-19 cases or other health metrics.

Baker. speaking during his daily briefing, said officials will monitor key public health metrics between June 1 and June 6 and announce on June 6 when Phase Two can officially begin. Officials are monitoring data on hospitalizations, new infections and fatalities, among other markers.

[ ... ]

"We understand the importance of balancing public health and economic health," said Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito during the daily briefing with Baker. "We need to do everything we can to support both."

Indoor dining will follow later in Phase Two. Polito did not specify when that may be.

"The ventilation obviously outdoors is a lot better than the ventilation indoors," Baker said. "It would give people a chance to figure out how to work between the tables, with respect to the degree of spacing. And we also got a lot of positive feedback from our colleagues in other states that started with outdoor first as a mechanism to sort of create a walk back in to the process of operating indoors. And it is spring."

He added that one "of the reasons for pursuing an outdoor strategy to begin with is that's an easier and simpler way for someone to reintroduce themselves to dining."

[ ... ]

Restaurants also should get diners' contact information, whether they make a reservation or walk-in for a table, according to the guidelines. That's similar to rules the Baker administration has imposed on other industries to track who comes and goes from their businesses.

In the event of a presumptive or actual positive COVID-19 case of a worker, patron, or vendor, the restaurant must immediately shut down for 24 hours and be cleaned and disinfected before reopening.

More details are expected in a new executive order that Baker will sign on Monday, which will also allow the local professional sports teams to start practicing.

Once again, the town of Acton has yet to post an update for today. Yesterday's report (supposedly issued at 10:30PM) listed 167 cumulative cases with 45 individuals in isolation, 101 persons recovered and 21 fatalities; the previous most recent report was of 165 cumulative cases, 47 individuals in isolation, 97 persons recovered and 21 deaths, so yay for nobody more dying, I guess.

Comments

[thewayne]

Yesterday I was fixing a posting problem with my LJ cross-posts: in early March, the State of NM had four cases, no deaths. We're now at 7493 and 344 deaths.