Local COVID-19 updates
Sep. 19th, 2020 04:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 4PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 26 newly reported confirmed deaths (18 more than yesterday - up 225.0%) for a total of 9,085 deaths, 569 newly reported confirmed cases (138 more than yesterday - up 32.0%) for a total of 125,139 cases, and 21,298 new patients tested by molecular tests (919 less than yesterday - down 4.1%) for a total of 2,067,821 individuals tested, with a total of 3,337,292 molecular tests administered to date. The ratio of newly confirmed cases to individuals tested by molecular test is 2.7%, compared to 1.9% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (1 less than yesterday) for a total of 210 deaths, and 30 newly reported probable cases (7 more than yesterday - up 30.4%) for a total of 2,042 cases. The state also reported 299 patients tested by antibody tests (18 less than yesterday - down 5.7%) for a total of 118,069 patients, and 1,403 patients tested by antigen tests (86 more than yesterday - up 6.5%) for a total of 116,565 patients. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 26 new deaths for a total of 9,295 and 599 new cases for a total of 127,181.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 357.4 compared to 311.9 last week (up 14.6%) and 306.4 two weeks ago (up 16.6%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 14.0 compared to 11.4 last week (up 22.5%) and 14.9 two weeks ago (down 5.8%). The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 17,698.6 compared to 14,856.9 last week (up 19.1%) and 20,357.0 two weeks ago (down 13.1%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 2.1% last week and 1.5% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the seven-day weighted average positive test rate is 0.8%, 0% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 18. The three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 359, 19% above the lowest observed value of 302 on August 29. The number of hospitals using surge capacity is 4, 4 above the lowest observed value of 0 on September 5. The three-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 16, 71% above the lowest observed value of 9 on September 7.
Whoa, that's some bad day-over-day numbers, especially for a weekend. Comfirmed deaths way up, cases way up, tests down, and thus a big jump in percent-positive. (No new probable deaths, which I guess is something.) The seven-day averages aren't any better, and two of the state's "key metrics" (three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital and three-day average of COVID-19 deaths) have been climbing for four consecutive days. As the locals on O'ahu used to say, "no mo bettah, brah!".
In sort-of-good news, fewer of the sickest patients with COVID-19 are now dying in hospital, as doctors learn more about what treatments work better:
I guess "you're not quite as likely to die from this as you were six months ago" qualifies as a bit of progress - at least, given how much of a perambulating clusterfuck the rest of the country's response has been.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:45PM on September 16, the town of Acton reported 202 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 2 individuals in isolation, 179 recovered and 21 fatalities.
The seven day average number of newly confirmed cases per day is 357.4 compared to 311.9 last week (up 14.6%) and 306.4 two weeks ago (up 16.6%). The seven day average number of newly confirmed deaths per day is 14.0 compared to 11.4 last week (up 22.5%) and 14.9 two weeks ago (down 5.8%). The seven day average number of molecular tests per day is 17,698.6 compared to 14,856.9 last week (up 19.1%) and 20,357.0 two weeks ago (down 13.1%). The seven day average percentage of tests coming back positive per day is 2.1% compared to 2.1% last week and 1.5% two weeks ago. (The above averages are calculated from today's raw data download.)
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the seven-day weighted average positive test rate is 0.8%, 0% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 18. The three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 359, 19% above the lowest observed value of 302 on August 29. The number of hospitals using surge capacity is 4, 4 above the lowest observed value of 0 on September 5. The three-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 16, 71% above the lowest observed value of 9 on September 7.
Whoa, that's some bad day-over-day numbers, especially for a weekend. Comfirmed deaths way up, cases way up, tests down, and thus a big jump in percent-positive. (No new probable deaths, which I guess is something.) The seven-day averages aren't any better, and two of the state's "key metrics" (three-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital and three-day average of COVID-19 deaths) have been climbing for four consecutive days. As the locals on O'ahu used to say, "no mo bettah, brah!".
In sort-of-good news, fewer of the sickest patients with COVID-19 are now dying in hospital, as doctors learn more about what treatments work better:
Covid-19 continues to kill close to 1,000 Americans a day. But for those who develop dangerous cases of the infection, advances in medical care and the growing experience of doctors are improving the chances of survival.
Since the first case arrived in the U.S. at the start of the year, medical professionals have gone from fumbling in the dark to better understanding which drugs work — such as steroids and blood thinners, and the antiviral medicine remdesivir. Allocation of intensive medical resources have improved. And doctors have learned to hold off on the use of ventilators for some patients, unlike with many other severe respiratory illnesses.
[ ... ]
One study looked at 4,689 Covid-19 hospitalizations from March to June in New York, adjusting patients' mortality rate for factors such as age, race, obesity and any underlying illnesses they might have had. In the first half of March, the mortality rate for hospitalized patients was 23%. By June, it had fallen to 8%. The research hasn't yet been peer-reviewed, a process through which other experts examine the work.
Despite the gains, the U.S. will soon pass 200,000 deaths, and tens of thousands of Americans are confirmed infected each day. The number killed by the disease is still in large part a factor of how many are infected in the first place -- the more people who get sick, the more die. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has emphasized that a mask is still the best available protection from the virus for most people. And experts warn that the virus is still very dangerous and can kill even seemingly healthy individuals.
[ ... ]
"We kind of had a play book before we even started seeing any patients in Texas," said Robert Hancock president of Texas College of Emergency Physicians. "We understand the things that work at this point with Covid much better."
Since March, doctors have learned valuable lessons, not only about how to ensure hospitals don't run out of ICU beds and ventilators, but also that flipping a patient onto their stomach, known as prone positioning, can help. Giving patients steroids early on and treating them with blood thinners can also improve someone's prognosis.
"Now that we know that we might need to start these patients on blood thinners and Heparin pretty quickly, that's helping," said Diana L. Fite, president of the Texas Medical Association. "A lot of these deaths from Covid are because of the blood coagulation; the blood clots ruin their organs."
Though there is still no cure for the coronavirus, all of the improvements in treatment and preventative measures combined contributes toward an improved prognosis for patients, Fite said. In Texas, there have been at least 14,590 deaths from the virus, according to the Texas Department of State Health Services.
"Even if these things aren't cures, they help a small percentage do better," Fite said. "You add several of those things up and you've got a better outcome overall."
I guess "you're not quite as likely to die from this as you were six months ago" qualifies as a bit of progress - at least, given how much of a perambulating clusterfuck the rest of the country's response has been.
The town of Acton has yet to post an update today. As of the most recent report at 3:45PM on September 16, the town of Acton reported 202 cumulative cases of COVID-19 in town with 2 individuals in isolation, 179 recovered and 21 fatalities.