Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 22nd, 2020 04:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs previously noted, this weekend's system upgrade at the Department of Public Health has impacted the test counts; the first page of today's report includes the following note:
Anyway, as of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 20 newly reported confirmed deaths (7 more than yesterday - up 53.8%) for a total of 8,690 deaths, 109 newly reported confirmed cases (322 less than yesterday - down 74.7%) for a total of 115,850 cases, and 8,301 new patients tested by molecular tests (18,457 less than yesterday - down 69.0%) for a total of 1,544,163 individuals tested, with a total of 2,064,529 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 1.3%, compared to 1.6% yesterday. The state also reported 332 patients tested by antibody tests (476 less than yesterday - down 58.9%) for a total of 108,343 and 121 patients tested by antigen tests (1,474 less than yesterday - down 92.4%) for a total of 74,606.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 250.7 compared to 274.6 last week (down 8.7%) and 299.4 two weeks ago (down 16.3%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.4 compared to 13.7 last week (down 2.1%) and 13.4 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 16,923.4 compared to 18,784.7 last week (down 9.9%) and 14,429.4 two weeks ago (up 17.3%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 1.5% compared to 1.5% last week and 2.0% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Deaths are up day-by-day, while the test and case counts are both down, presumably in large part due to the reporting system upgrade mentioned above. The drop in percent-positive ratio looks to be good news, though. The seven-day averages don't look so good, though; cases are down over the last two weeks, but tests are down compared to last week, deaths are the same as two weeks ago, and percent-positive is flat compared to last week. The test counts, at least, are likely impacted by the upgrade, but that shouldn't impact death rates or the percent-positive ratio. Granted, these are still better numbers than most other states in the US; however, there's a long way between "better than most" and "good", especially given how bad much of the rest of the country is going.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:30PM on August 17, the town of Acton reported 189 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 3 individuals in isolation, 165 recovered and 21 fatalities.
PLEASE NOTE: Due to the planned upgrade by DPH of its electronic laboratory reporting system during the weekend of August 22-23, today’s data report includes information reported to DPH from 8:30 AM Friday to 5 PM Friday (less than 24 hours) and so numbers may appear lower than usual. No report will publish on Sunday. Monday’s report will include all laboratory results, cases, and deaths received after 5 PM Friday and will be assigned to their respective test dates.(emphasis in original)
Anyway, as of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 20 newly reported confirmed deaths (7 more than yesterday - up 53.8%) for a total of 8,690 deaths, 109 newly reported confirmed cases (322 less than yesterday - down 74.7%) for a total of 115,850 cases, and 8,301 new patients tested by molecular tests (18,457 less than yesterday - down 69.0%) for a total of 1,544,163 individuals tested, with a total of 2,064,529 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 1.3%, compared to 1.6% yesterday. The state also reported 332 patients tested by antibody tests (476 less than yesterday - down 58.9%) for a total of 108,343 and 121 patients tested by antigen tests (1,474 less than yesterday - down 92.4%) for a total of 74,606.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 250.7 compared to 274.6 last week (down 8.7%) and 299.4 two weeks ago (down 16.3%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 13.4 compared to 13.7 last week (down 2.1%) and 13.4 two weeks ago. The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 16,923.4 compared to 18,784.7 last week (down 9.9%) and 14,429.4 two weeks ago (up 17.3%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 1.5% compared to 1.5% last week and 2.0% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Deaths are up day-by-day, while the test and case counts are both down, presumably in large part due to the reporting system upgrade mentioned above. The drop in percent-positive ratio looks to be good news, though. The seven-day averages don't look so good, though; cases are down over the last two weeks, but tests are down compared to last week, deaths are the same as two weeks ago, and percent-positive is flat compared to last week. The test counts, at least, are likely impacted by the upgrade, but that shouldn't impact death rates or the percent-positive ratio. Granted, these are still better numbers than most other states in the US; however, there's a long way between "better than most" and "good", especially given how bad much of the rest of the country is going.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:30PM on August 17, the town of Acton reported 189 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 3 individuals in isolation, 165 recovered and 21 fatalities.