Local COVID-19 updates
Jul. 2nd, 2020 10:07 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 16 newly reported confirmed COVID-19 deaths (for a total of 7,918 confirmed deaths), 158 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 104,016) and 7,786 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 860,936), with a total of 1,090,482 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.0%. The state also reported 35 newly reported probable deaths (for a total of 214), 37 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 5,322), and 861 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 73,613). In total, the state reported 51 new deaths (for a total of 8,132) and 195 new cases (for a total of 109,338).
Nice to see the confirmed deaths down, but very unhappy to see that confirmed cases ticked up even as molecular tests dropped substantially - thus the big spike in percent-positive rate. Also not happy about the jump in probable deaths, nor about the fact that the count of hospitals using surge capacity is now up to four.
The big news today is that Governor Baker announced that Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan would begin on July 13 in Boston and on July 6 elsewhere in the commonwealth. This will allow movie theaters, museums, fitness centers (among others) to reopen, while pro sports teams "may hold games without spectators". Carefully not included in this list: bars and nightclubs. And they're not coming back any time soon, either:
Nice to see the confirmed deaths down, but very unhappy to see that confirmed cases ticked up even as molecular tests dropped substantially - thus the big spike in percent-positive rate. Also not happy about the jump in probable deaths, nor about the fact that the count of hospitals using surge capacity is now up to four.
The big news today is that Governor Baker announced that Phase 3 of the state's reopening plan would begin on July 13 in Boston and on July 6 elsewhere in the commonwealth. This will allow movie theaters, museums, fitness centers (among others) to reopen, while pro sports teams "may hold games without spectators". Carefully not included in this list: bars and nightclubs. And they're not coming back any time soon, either:
This could be as open as things get for a while, though.The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 9:30PM on Sunday 6/28, the town reported 173 cumulative cases with 0 individuals in isolation, 152 persons recovered and 21 fatalities.
While Massachusetts has progressed through the first three phases of Baker’s re-opening plan in just six weeks, Baker cautioned that Phase Three will last far longer than previous steps, and that Phase 4 —basically full resumption of normal activities — won’t begin until effective COVID treatments or a vaccine are in place.
That, Baker said, could help prevent a resurgence of the virus, which he noted has spread quickly elsewhere in settings such as crowded bars and nightclubs. Those are still not allowed to open here, and may not for some time.
“As difficult as it is for the people who operate and work in those institutions, we could not figure out a way to do that safely,” he said. “And I think some of the indicators we’ve gotten from other states that move forward with those is that they couldn’t figure that part out either.”
(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-03 03:14 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2020-07-04 01:35 am (UTC)