Local COVID-19 updates
Dec. 14th, 2020 05:33 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeTrying something a little different - cut-tagging all the autogenerated text.
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 37 newly reported confirmed deaths (4 less than yesterday - down 9.8%) for a total of 11,135 deaths, 3,572 newly reported confirmed cases (1,105 less than yesterday - down 23.6%) for a total of 283,146 cases, and 56,122 newly reported molecular tests (34,134 less than yesterday - down 37.8%). The seven day average positivity rate is 5.71%, compared to 5.61% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 7.70%, compared to 7.66% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 72,883 (2,232 more than yesterday - up 3.2%). The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 253 and 81 newly reported probable cases (95 less than yesterday - down 54.0%) for a total of 11,085. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 39 new deaths for a total of 11,388 and 3,653 new cases for a total of 294,231. There were 1,788 COVID-19 patients in hospital (81 more than yesterday - up 4.7%), 354 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (12 more than yesterday - up 3.5%) and 186 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 more than yesterday - up 4.5%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,584 (209 more than yesterday - up 6.2%), 2,182% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 25% below the highest observed value of 4,758 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 5.7% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.9%), 637% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 79% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,644 (39 more than yesterday - up 2.4%), 960% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 58% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 43 (1 less than yesterday - down 2.3%), 290% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 76% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,721, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 27, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,021, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.9% (or 5.55% excluding higher education).
Day-by-day changes certainly look nice, with deaths and cases down. But it's Monday, and weekend data reporting is notoriously spotty. In fact, today is by far the worst Monday of the pandemic as far as newly reported cases go - beating last Monday's 2,463 new cases, which had been the worst Monday of the pandemic. Meanwhile, of course, positivity is up again, the estimated active case count continues its inexorable upward climb, and all the hospitalization counts are up.
We're still waiting for Governor Baker to take something vaguely resembling effective action to deal with this surge. On the other hand, the mayors of Boston, Somerville, Brockton and Newton aren't waiting on Baker any longer, and announced today that they are all rolling back reopenings for the next three weeks:
I certainly hope that will make a significant difference. I'm a bit skeptical, though, given that indoor dining is still allowed, and that's the single biggest risk that I can think of at this point that's not already addressed.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 65 active and 423 cumulative cases as of December 13. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 4PM on December 8 reported 389 cumulative cases with 60 individuals in isolation, 307 persons recovered and 22 fatalities.
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 37 newly reported confirmed deaths (4 less than yesterday - down 9.8%) for a total of 11,135 deaths, 3,572 newly reported confirmed cases (1,105 less than yesterday - down 23.6%) for a total of 283,146 cases, and 56,122 newly reported molecular tests (34,134 less than yesterday - down 37.8%). The seven day average positivity rate is 5.71%, compared to 5.61% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 7.70%, compared to 7.66% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 72,883 (2,232 more than yesterday - up 3.2%). The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 253 and 81 newly reported probable cases (95 less than yesterday - down 54.0%) for a total of 11,085. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 39 new deaths for a total of 11,388 and 3,653 new cases for a total of 294,231. There were 1,788 COVID-19 patients in hospital (81 more than yesterday - up 4.7%), 354 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (12 more than yesterday - up 3.5%) and 186 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 more than yesterday - up 4.5%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,584 (209 more than yesterday - up 6.2%), 2,182% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 25% below the highest observed value of 4,758 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 5.7% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.9%), 637% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 79% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,644 (39 more than yesterday - up 2.4%), 960% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 58% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 43 (1 less than yesterday - down 2.3%), 290% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 76% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,721, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 27, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,021, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.9% (or 5.55% excluding higher education).
Day-by-day changes certainly look nice, with deaths and cases down. But it's Monday, and weekend data reporting is notoriously spotty. In fact, today is by far the worst Monday of the pandemic as far as newly reported cases go - beating last Monday's 2,463 new cases, which had been the worst Monday of the pandemic. Meanwhile, of course, positivity is up again, the estimated active case count continues its inexorable upward climb, and all the hospitalization counts are up.
We're still waiting for Governor Baker to take something vaguely resembling effective action to deal with this surge. On the other hand, the mayors of Boston, Somerville, Brockton and Newton aren't waiting on Baker any longer, and announced today that they are all rolling back reopenings for the next three weeks:
Mayors in some of the region's biggest cities — including Boston, Brockton, Somerville and Newton — have agreed to roll back their economies as infection rates rise rapidly in Massachusetts, a move that will close down gyms, museums, and movie theaters.
In the coming days, more cities and towns are expected to join the effort to return to Phase 2, Step 2 — a three-week pause that will begin in some communities as soon as Wednesday — reflecting how municipal leaders do not think the state is doing enough to control the spread of COVID-19.
"Unfortunately, we are at the point where we need to take stronger action to control COVID-19 in Boston, and urgently, to ensure our health care workers have the capacity to care for everyone in need," Boston Mayor Martin J. Walsh said in a statement. "We are hopeful that by reducing opportunities for transmission throughout the region, we will reduce the spread of this deadly virus and maintain our ability to keep critical services open."
Walsh added during an afternoon briefing with reporters that city officials are seeking to "slow the spread now, so we can avoid more severe shutdowns later on."
According to Walsh's office, the businesses that'll be required to close for at least three weeks include indoor fitness centers and health clubs; movie theaters; museums; aquariums; sightseeing and other organized tours; indoor historical spaces and sites; and arcades, among many other spots.
"I want to be clear, this is not about targeting specific sectors [of the economy] that cause the virus," Walsh said. "This is an effort to reduce overall activity outside the home using mechanisms afforded by the state's reopening plan."
Indoor dining will be able to continue during the rollback, Walsh said, but bar seating will be restricted and the 90-minute time limit per party that was announced previously remains in effect.
"Restaurants will eventually be shut down if our numbers continue to go up," he said. "The biggest thing we want to see with these rollbacks is that our numbers come down" and hospitalizations decrease.
I certainly hope that will make a significant difference. I'm a bit skeptical, though, given that indoor dining is still allowed, and that's the single biggest risk that I can think of at this point that's not already addressed.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 65 active and 423 cumulative cases as of December 13. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 4PM on December 8 reported 389 cumulative cases with 60 individuals in isolation, 307 persons recovered and 22 fatalities.