Local COVID-19 updates
Dec. 17th, 2020 05:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 44 newly reported confirmed deaths (27 less than yesterday - down 38.0%) for a total of 11,305 deaths, 4,985 newly reported confirmed cases (465 less than yesterday - down 8.5%) for a total of 297,301 cases, and 92,627 newly reported molecular tests (31,545 less than yesterday - down 25.4%). The seven day average positivity rate is 6.02%, compared to 6.03% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 7.90%, compared to 7.95% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 76,215 (2,003 more than yesterday - up 2.7%). The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (1 more than yesterday) for a total of 253 and 150 newly reported probable cases (352 less than yesterday - down 70.1%) for a total of 11,946. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 45 new deaths for a total of 11,558 and 5,135 new cases for a total of 309,247. There were 1,871 COVID-19 patients in hospital (20 more than yesterday - up 1.1%), 383 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 more than yesterday - up 0.3%) and 207 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (2 more than yesterday - up 1.0%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,204 (53 less than yesterday - down 1.6%), 1,940% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 33% below the highest observed value of 4,763 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.0% (0 less than yesterday - down 0.1%), 681% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 78% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,761 (38 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 1,036% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 55% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 45 (same as yesterday), 309% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 75% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,184, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 31, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,151, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.3% (or 7.32% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also released its Weekly COVID - 19 Public Health Report. My town of Acton is listed as having 424 cases, with a two week case count of 79 new cases in the last fourteen days (higher than last week), a daily incidence rate of 23.8 new cases per day per 100k population in the last fourteen days and a risk color code of yellow. Acton is also listed as having 20,772 total tests, with 2,313 total tests and 88 positive tests in the last fourteen days, for a percent positive rate of 3.80% over the last fourteen days, which is lower than last week. The corresponding statewide numbers are 292,316 cases, with a two week case count of 63,445 new cases in the last fourteen days (higher than last week), a daily incidence rate of 65.1 new cases per day per 100k population in the last fourteen days and a risk color code of red. The state is also listed as having 9,809,105 total tests, with 1,202,244 total tests and 72,236 positive tests in the last fourteen days, for a percent positive rate of 6.01% over the last fourteen days, which is higher than last week.
Of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, 75 are coded gray, 13 are coded green, and 76 are coded yellow. The remaining 187 cities/towns are coded red: Abington, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Amesbury, Andover, Ashburnham, Ashland, Athol, Attleboro, Auburn, Avon, Ayer, Barnstable, Barre, Bellingham, Berkley, Billerica, Blackstone, Boxford, Boylston, Braintree, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookfield, Burlington, Carver, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dartmouth, Deerfield, Dighton, Douglas, Dracut, Dudley, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Easton, Edgartown, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Granby, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Groveland, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Haverhill, Holbrook, Holden, Holyoke, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Leominster, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marion, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Millis, Monson, Montague, Nantucket, New Bedford, Newbury, Newburyport, Norfolk, North Andover, North Attleborough, North Reading, Northborough, Northbridge, Norton, Norwood, Oak Bluffs, Orange, Oxford, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plainville, Plymouth, Princeton, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Rehoboth, Revere, Rochester, Rockland, Rowley, Rutland, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Seekonk, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Southampton, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Sterling, Stoneham, Stoughton, Sturbridge, Sutton, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Tewksbury, Tisbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Webster, West Boylston, West Bridgewater, West Newbury, West Springfield, Westborough, Westfield, Westford, Westminster, Westport, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Wilmington, Winchendon, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, and Yarmouth.
Using the old definitions (based purely on case counts), of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, 49 would be coded gray (less than 5 total reported cases in the last 14 days), none would be coded green (less than 4.0 daily cases per 100k population), none would be coded yellow (4.0 to 8.0 daily cases per 100k population). while the remaining 302 cities/towns would be coded red (high-risk; more than 8.0 daily cases per 100k population).
Of the 10 towns near my church in Stow, 1 is coded gray (Harvard), 2 are coded green (Bolton and Boxborough), 5 are coded yellow (Acton, Berlin, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury), and 2 are coded red (Hudson and Marlborough). Under the original risk codes, of the 10 towns near my church in Stow, none are coded gray, none are coded green, none are coded yellow, and 10 are coded red (Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury).
Mightily doth this suck. Admittedly, the day-to-day deaths are down a bunch, and the day-to-day cases and positivity are both down a tad. However, the estimated active cases and all the hospitalization counts are still climbing, and that ain't good. The weekly numbers are even worse, as the state is up to 187 cities and towns in the highest-risk category, up from 158 just last week; only 88 are still in the lowest-risk (gray or green) categories.
The local news has been focused on today's snowstorm, which dropped better than a foot of very fluffy snow on my neck of the woods. Also a point of discussion: COVID-19 vaccines, especially what looks like the FDA being about to approve the Moderna mRNA vaccine candidate. (An outside advisory panel just voted 20-0 with one abstention to recommend the emergency use authorization.) As far as I can tell, Governor Baker hasn't said a word today about the pandemic.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 67 active and 437 cumulative cases as of December 16. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 9PM on December 15 reported 433 cumulative cases with 63 individuals in isolation, 345 persons recovered and 25 fatalities.
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,204 (53 less than yesterday - down 1.6%), 1,940% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 33% below the highest observed value of 4,763 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.0% (0 less than yesterday - down 0.1%), 681% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on September 21 and 78% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on April 15. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,761 (38 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 1,036% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 55% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 45 (same as yesterday), 309% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 75% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,184, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 31, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,151, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.3% (or 7.32% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also released its Weekly COVID - 19 Public Health Report. My town of Acton is listed as having 424 cases, with a two week case count of 79 new cases in the last fourteen days (higher than last week), a daily incidence rate of 23.8 new cases per day per 100k population in the last fourteen days and a risk color code of yellow. Acton is also listed as having 20,772 total tests, with 2,313 total tests and 88 positive tests in the last fourteen days, for a percent positive rate of 3.80% over the last fourteen days, which is lower than last week. The corresponding statewide numbers are 292,316 cases, with a two week case count of 63,445 new cases in the last fourteen days (higher than last week), a daily incidence rate of 65.1 new cases per day per 100k population in the last fourteen days and a risk color code of red. The state is also listed as having 9,809,105 total tests, with 1,202,244 total tests and 72,236 positive tests in the last fourteen days, for a percent positive rate of 6.01% over the last fourteen days, which is higher than last week.
Of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, 75 are coded gray, 13 are coded green, and 76 are coded yellow. The remaining 187 cities/towns are coded red: Abington, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Amesbury, Andover, Ashburnham, Ashland, Athol, Attleboro, Auburn, Avon, Ayer, Barnstable, Barre, Bellingham, Berkley, Billerica, Blackstone, Boxford, Boylston, Braintree, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookfield, Burlington, Carver, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dartmouth, Deerfield, Dighton, Douglas, Dracut, Dudley, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Easton, Edgartown, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Fitchburg, Framingham, Franklin, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Granby, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Groveland, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Haverhill, Holbrook, Holden, Holyoke, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Leominster, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marion, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mattapoisett, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Millis, Monson, Montague, Nantucket, New Bedford, Newbury, Newburyport, Norfolk, North Andover, North Attleborough, North Reading, Northborough, Northbridge, Norton, Norwood, Oak Bluffs, Orange, Oxford, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plainville, Plymouth, Princeton, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Rehoboth, Revere, Rochester, Rockland, Rowley, Rutland, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Seekonk, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Southampton, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Sterling, Stoneham, Stoughton, Sturbridge, Sutton, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Tewksbury, Tisbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Wareham, Webster, West Boylston, West Bridgewater, West Newbury, West Springfield, Westborough, Westfield, Westford, Westminster, Westport, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Wilmington, Winchendon, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, and Yarmouth.
Using the old definitions (based purely on case counts), of the 351 cities and towns in the commonwealth, 49 would be coded gray (less than 5 total reported cases in the last 14 days), none would be coded green (less than 4.0 daily cases per 100k population), none would be coded yellow (4.0 to 8.0 daily cases per 100k population). while the remaining 302 cities/towns would be coded red (high-risk; more than 8.0 daily cases per 100k population).
Of the 10 towns near my church in Stow, 1 is coded gray (Harvard), 2 are coded green (Bolton and Boxborough), 5 are coded yellow (Acton, Berlin, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury), and 2 are coded red (Hudson and Marlborough). Under the original risk codes, of the 10 towns near my church in Stow, none are coded gray, none are coded green, none are coded yellow, and 10 are coded red (Acton, Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury).
Mightily doth this suck. Admittedly, the day-to-day deaths are down a bunch, and the day-to-day cases and positivity are both down a tad. However, the estimated active cases and all the hospitalization counts are still climbing, and that ain't good. The weekly numbers are even worse, as the state is up to 187 cities and towns in the highest-risk category, up from 158 just last week; only 88 are still in the lowest-risk (gray or green) categories.
The local news has been focused on today's snowstorm, which dropped better than a foot of very fluffy snow on my neck of the woods. Also a point of discussion: COVID-19 vaccines, especially what looks like the FDA being about to approve the Moderna mRNA vaccine candidate. (An outside advisory panel just voted 20-0 with one abstention to recommend the emergency use authorization.) As far as I can tell, Governor Baker hasn't said a word today about the pandemic.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 67 active and 437 cumulative cases as of December 16. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 9PM on December 15 reported 433 cumulative cases with 63 individuals in isolation, 345 persons recovered and 25 fatalities.