Local (and other) COVID-19 updates
Jun. 13th, 2020 09:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 38 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 7,42- confirmed deaths), 259 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 101,070) and 10,160 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 699,271). The ratio of newly confirmed cases to molecular test results is 2.5%. The state also reported no newly reported probable deaths (leaving the total at 156), 77 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 4,325), and 1,264 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 57,048). In total, the state reported 38 new deaths (for a total of 7,576) and 336 new cases (for a total of 105,395).
All the headline numbers are going in a good direction; and I lost my slight bet from yesterday (that the three-day average of confirmed deaths would tick up). I do wish, however, that the numbers of tests weren't so consistently stuck at 10k per day; supposedly, the state can currently process closer to 30k tests per day, and not using that capacity strikes me as ... ill-advised, under the circumstances. Couldn't we at least be more aggressive testing in hospitals and congregant-living facilities?
The national trends aren't nearly as promising, as case counts are rising in many Southern and Western states:
I guess one silver lining to the heavy hit that Massachusetts took over the last couple of months is the fact that most people in the state are still taking this virus seriously.
As of 8:30AM this morning, the town of Acton is reporting 171 cumulative cases with 2 individuals in isolation, 148 persons recovered and 21 fatalities. That implies no new cases since last Sunday, which is definitely good news.
All the headline numbers are going in a good direction; and I lost my slight bet from yesterday (that the three-day average of confirmed deaths would tick up). I do wish, however, that the numbers of tests weren't so consistently stuck at 10k per day; supposedly, the state can currently process closer to 30k tests per day, and not using that capacity strikes me as ... ill-advised, under the circumstances. Couldn't we at least be more aggressive testing in hospitals and congregant-living facilities?
The national trends aren't nearly as promising, as case counts are rising in many Southern and Western states:
Key metrics measuring Massachusetts’ progress beating back the coronavirus outbreak continue to move in a positive direction, but warning signs are flashing in other parts of the country, with cases surging in numerous states in the South and West — a trend that could eventually hurt Massachusetts.
State officials reported Saturday that the coronavirus death toll had risen by 38 to 7,576 while the number of people who have tested positive climbed by 336 to 105,395, figures that include both confirmed and probable cases of the virus. Other key metrics monitored by state officials showed continued improvement as well.
But in big swaths of the rest of the country, the trends do not look so encouraging.
COVID-19 infections are on the rise in roughly two dozen states according to data showing the three-day moving average of confirmed new cases, compiled by Johns Hopkins University.
Daily coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas, one of the states public health experts are watching with concern, have reached a new high for a third time in four days.
Florida, which has a large population of residents at elevated risk, reported Saturday morning more than 2,500 new confirmed cases, the third consecutive single-day new case record and a figure that marks the 10th out of 11 straight days in which new cases have topped 1,000.
Arizona and North Carolina also are among the states that have seen more new cases and hospitalizations, and a rising rate of positive tests in recent weeks.
The accelerating spread around the United States, where the virus has killed more than 114,000 people as of Saturday, could in turn endanger Massachusetts and other hard-hit states that have managed to tamp down damaging outbreaks with rigid social distancing measures and business closures, health experts said.
While states like Massachusetts and New York that felt the first surge "so powerfully" are naturally conservative about reopening and observing public health recommendations, much of the country didn’t experience the same nightmare, and are approaching reopening with "a more cavalier attitude," said Dr. Rochelle Walensky, chief of infectious diseases at Massachusetts General Hospital.
"They never felt the pain the way we did," she said. "The fact that the rest of the country is not behaving with the same cautious attitude that [hard-hit] parts of the country are puts us all at risk."
"I would advise caution in traveling to those places," said Dr. David Hamer, an infectious disease expert at Boston Medical Center and professor at Boston University School of Public Health.
[ ... ]
Asked about coronavirus spikes in other states on Thursday, Governor Charlie Baker said state officials are taking precautions against a new wave emerging here.
"Part of the reason for pursuing a careful and cautious and phased approach to reopening was to be sure that we would be able to deal with hot spots or any examples of increased positive testing along the way," Baker said. He also pointed to the ambitious statewide contact tracing program his administration launched and the statewide standards for employers and industry-specific protocols that business must follow as they reopen and welcome employees and customers back.
I guess one silver lining to the heavy hit that Massachusetts took over the last couple of months is the fact that most people in the state are still taking this virus seriously.
As of 8:30AM this morning, the town of Acton is reporting 171 cumulative cases with 2 individuals in isolation, 148 persons recovered and 21 fatalities. That implies no new cases since last Sunday, which is definitely good news.