Edmund Schweppe (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
edschweppe) wrote2020-07-27 05:46 pm
edschweppe) wrote2020-07-27 05:46 pm
Entry tags:
Local COVID-19 updates
As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 7 newly reported confirmed deaths (for a total of 8,317), 182 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 108,562), and 10,291 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 1,123,793), with a total of 1,454,584 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 1.8%. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (for a total of 219), 107 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 7,364), and 205 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 92,664). Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 7 new deaths (for a total of 8,536) and 289 new cases (for a total of 115,926).
On a day-to-day comparison, these numbers look better than yesterday - deaths and (confirmed) cases down, tests up (slightly), and percent-positive back down below two percent. On the other hand, it's a Monday, and I've seen most Mondays come in with better results than the rest of the week. On the gripping hand, the three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is down again, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity is down to zero.
However, the case counts have been ticking upward, compared to several weeks ago - and that has Governor Baker concerned:
He's not the only one concerned. Yes, the state is in a much better place today than three months ago. But this is still a pandemic with neither effective treatments nor effective vaccines. Most of the rest of the US is doing far worse than we are, and the much-ballyhooed quarantine requirements have yet to kick in. (Assuming they do any good for situations like the Baystate Health employee mentioned above.)
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 11:30AM on July 24,the town reported 181 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 4 individuals in isolation, 156 recovered and 21 fatalities.
On a day-to-day comparison, these numbers look better than yesterday - deaths and (confirmed) cases down, tests up (slightly), and percent-positive back down below two percent. On the other hand, it's a Monday, and I've seen most Mondays come in with better results than the rest of the week. On the gripping hand, the three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is down again, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity is down to zero.
However, the case counts have been ticking upward, compared to several weeks ago - and that has Governor Baker concerned:
Governor Charlie Baker said Monday that new coronavirus cases in Massachusetts have recently ticked up, and he urged state residents to continue observing safety protocols to stem the spread of the deadly contagion.
"Positive test rates have ticked up, going from about 1.7 to about 2 percent," Baker said during his regular State House press conference. "Obviously, we would prefer to see zero new cases of COVID, but we know that's just not going to be the case until we have a medical breakthrough like a vaccine."
Baker said officials are closely analyzing data for trends and are aware of some small clusters associated with gatherings, including a private party in Chatham and recent information regarding an employee at Baystate Health, who the governor said traveled to a hot-spot state and was "lax" about mask wearing.
Baker said a number of Baystate employees and a "couple of patients" have tested since positive. A request for comment was sent to Baystate on Monday afternoon.
In a statement, Dr. Mark A. Keroack, president and chief executive officer of Baystate Health, said that as of Monday morning, "we have identified 13 COVID-positive patients and 23 COVID-positive employees related to this outbreak."
Last week, Keroack said, Baystate Health identified COVID-positive employees and patients on a non-COVID clinical unit at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
According to Keroack, Baystate has reached out to all patients who received care on the unit between July 15 -23, and they're being tested. He added that Baystate has been conducting testing and contact tracing of employees who were working on the unit, as well as staffers who spent more than 15 minutes on the unit during this same time period.
Contact tracing is being conducted for any patients who test positive, according to Keroack.
"We know that an employee traveled to an area within the United States that has been identified as a ‘hot spot,' and upon return was diagnosed with the virus," he said. "In addition, we know staff convened in breakrooms and removed their masks without observing proper social distancing protocols. These simple lapses were able to happen in spite of our screening employees for fever and other symptoms before every shift, mandating mask usage and social distancing throughout the facility."
Keroack noted that people without symptoms "may shed the virus, and those who feel they are somehow in an area without virus may let their guard down from time to time, with serious consequences. We have seen this in too many areas throughout the country."
He said the outbreak demonstrates that the virus is highly contagious and that people must remain vigilant against its spread.
"We are deeply disappointed that this outbreak occurred, and we are committed to an ongoing review of our safety practices to ensure they are aligned with current guidelines and science," Keroack said. "We remain committed to high quality safe care and environments, and to transparency with all in our community who count on us each and every day."
He's not the only one concerned. Yes, the state is in a much better place today than three months ago. But this is still a pandemic with neither effective treatments nor effective vaccines. Most of the rest of the US is doing far worse than we are, and the much-ballyhooed quarantine requirements have yet to kick in. (Assuming they do any good for situations like the Baystate Health employee mentioned above.)
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 11:30AM on July 24,the town reported 181 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 4 individuals in isolation, 156 recovered and 21 fatalities.