Local COVID-19 updates
Dec. 18th, 2020 06:12 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 53 newly reported confirmed deaths (9 more than yesterday - up 20.5%) for a total of 11,358 deaths, 5,632 newly reported confirmed cases (647 more than yesterday - up 13.0%) for a total of 302,933 cases, and 106,034 newly reported molecular tests (13,407 more than yesterday - up 14.5%). The seven day average positivity rate is 6.13%, compared to 6.02% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 8.04%, compared to 7.90% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 80,989 (4,774 more than yesterday - up 6.3%). The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (1 less than yesterday) for a total of 252 and 47 newly reported probable cases (103 less than yesterday - down 68.7%) for a total of 11,993. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 53 new deaths for a total of 11,610 and 5,679 new cases for a total of 314,926. There were 1,874 COVID-19 patients in hospital (3 more than yesterday - up 0.2%), 370 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (13 less than yesterday - down 3.4%) and 204 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 less than yesterday - down 1.4%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,206 (2 more than yesterday - up 0.1%), 1,942% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 33% below the highest observed value of 4,775 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.1% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.8%), 696% 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 1,799 (38 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 1,060% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 54% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 46 (1 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 318% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 74% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,855, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 33, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,210, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.4% (or 7.48% excluding higher education).
The good news, such as there is of it, is that the ICU and intubation counts went down slightly. In much less good news, cases, deaths and positivity are all up day-to-day, as is the active case count and the hospitalization count.
Oh, and the state has just learned that, like so many others states, its allotment of Pfizer/BioNTech's new vaccine is being cut by the Feds for ... reasons?
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 68 active and 447 cumulative cases as of December 17. 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 3,206 (2 more than yesterday - up 0.1%), 1,942% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 33% below the highest observed value of 4,775 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.1% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.8%), 696% 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 1,799 (38 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 1,060% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 54% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 46 (1 more than yesterday - up 2.2%), 318% above the lowest observed value of 11 on September 9 and 74% below the highest observed value of 175 on April 24.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,855, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 33, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,210, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.4% (or 7.48% excluding higher education).
The good news, such as there is of it, is that the ICU and intubation counts went down slightly. In much less good news, cases, deaths and positivity are all up day-to-day, as is the active case count and the hospitalization count.
Oh, and the state has just learned that, like so many others states, its allotment of Pfizer/BioNTech's new vaccine is being cut by the Feds for ... reasons?
State officials Friday confirmed that their next shipment of Pfizer's new COVID-19 vaccine to Massachusetts will be cut from 60,000 to about 42,900 doses, raising fears of supply shortages just as vaccinations get underway.
The state's Command Center, which handles its response to the coronavirus crisis, was notified by the federal government that anticipated vaccine shipments would be reduced to Massachusetts and other states. The reason for the allotment cuts wasn't immediately clear, with both Pfizer and a federal spokeswoman insisting their plans hadn't changed.
Gov. Charlie Baker said he was "frustrated" by the allotment reduction. While it might delay the vaccine rollout for about two weeks for some front-line Massachusetts health workers, he said, it was "not clear yet if it will affect the timetable in any meaningful way." State officials have said they hope to vaccinate 5.8 million residents by mid-2021.
[ ... ]
Massachusetts is one of more than a dozen states that say they have been told to expect far fewer doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine in its second week of distribution, prompting worries about potential delays in shots for health care workers and long-term care residents.
Pfizer, which partnered with German biotech BioNTech to develop the first COVID-19 vaccine, issued a statement denying there are production or distribtion problems. The Food and Drug Administration authorized the vaccine for emergency use last Friday and nationwide shipments began leaving a Pfizer plant in Kalamazoo, Mich., two days later.
"Pfizer is not having any production issues with our COVID-19 vaccine, and no shipments containing the vaccine are on hold or delayed," the company said. "This week, we successfully shipped all 2.9 million doses that we were asked to ship by the U.S. Government to the locations specified by them.
"We have millions more doses sitting in our warehouse but, as of now, we have not received any shipment instructions for additional doses," the company's statement said.
[ ... ]
Among the other states that have been told their shipments would be reduced are New Hampshire, Connecticut, California, Illinois, Michigan, Washington, Georgia, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, Indiana, and Rhode Island.
Baker said Friday that the Command Center and the state Department of Public Health have been working to develop and implement a rollout program for priority groups to be vaccinated after the shots for COVID-facing healthcare workers and long-term care facilities.
"It's important to remember that this change in delivery plans will just result in a slight delay in the overall process," Baker said.
Whiskey Tango Foxtrot?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 68 active and 447 cumulative cases as of December 17. 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.