Local COVID-19 updates

[edschweppe]

As of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 18 newly reported confirmed deaths (for a total of 8,488), 320 newly reported confirmed cases (for a total of 111,853), and 14,740 new patients tested by molecular tests (for a total of 1,277,617), with a total of 1,676,170 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.2%. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (for a total of 221), 97 newly reported probable cases (for a total of 8,438), and 615 patients tested by antibody tests (for a total of 100,383). Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 18 new deaths (for a total of 8,709) and 417 new cases (for a total of 120,291).

The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 295.1 compared to 270.0 last week and 201.4 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 14.1 compared to 15.7 last week and 13.6 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 13,858.9 compared to 12,601.9 last week and 12,028.1 two weeks ago. The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 2.1% last week and 1.7% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)

Day-to-day deaths down and molecular tests up, both always good to see. However, both the new case numbers and the percent-positive ratio are both way up, which is ... bad. And the longer-term case and percent-positive averages continue to be trending higher, which is really bad.

Given that, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Governor Baker today announced new initiatives to combat the coronavirus, including cutting back on the size of allowable gatherings and ramping up enforcement:

Governor Charlie Baker on Friday announced that he was reducing the limit on outdoor gatherings from 100 to 50 people.

"Now we are seeing the virus escalate in certain communities around the commonwealth and we have to put together a plan working together to stop it," Baker said during his regular State House briefing. "This fight against COVID 19 is far from over."

The move was part of a set of initiatives he announced that were intended to contain the virus and ramp up enforcement of measures intended to prevent its spread.

He said the "notable decline" in the pandemic here "has caused some residents to feel a bit too relaxed about the seriousness of this virus."

Baker said restaurant guidelines would be updated to make clear that alcoholic beverages cannot be served unless they're accompanied by food prepared on site.

"Bars are closed in Massachusetts and bars masquerading as restaurants also need to be closed," he said.

He said health and inspection officials previously had enforced orders, but Friday he was "authorizing all state and local police officers to enforce these orders and event hosts who violate these orders will be subject to fines."

Baker also said he was creating a COVID enforcement and intervention team to ramp up enforcement in key, high-risk communities and to coordinate local intervention efforts.

In high-risk communities, he said, "Our goal is to help parents, families, individuals, and others make the smart decisions that they need to make with respect to their daily activities."

The governor also said the state was postponing indefinitely Step 2 of the current Phase 3 of its reopening plan.

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"One of the things we're trying to do here is to give local communities, local law enforcement, and the State Police the ability to actually issue a fine," Baker said.

The governor also noted that the majority of state residents have complied with his various public health directives during the health crisis.

"Everyone has been and continues to sacrifice to deal with this heinous virus," Baker said.

His words were echoed in the briefing by state Heath and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders.

"We have seen an uptick over the last few weeks" in positive cases, Sudders said. "We all have a role to play in stopping the spread of the virus."

The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3PM on July 28,the town reported 183 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in Acton with 4 individuals in isolation, 158 recovered and 21 fatalities.