Local COVID-19 updates
Dec. 22nd, 2020 05:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 43 newly reported confirmed deaths (2 more than yesterday - up 4.9%) for a total of 11,549 deaths, 3,293 newly reported confirmed cases (467 less than yesterday - down 12.4%) for a total of 318,143 cases, and 62,078 newly reported molecular tests (1,011 more than yesterday - up 1.7%). The seven day average positivity rate is 5.98%, compared to 5.94% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 7.48%, compared to 7.61% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 82,303 (2,065 less than yesterday - down 2.4%). The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 255 and 507 newly reported probable cases (424 more than yesterday - up 510.8%) for a total of 13,031. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 45 new deaths for a total of 11,804 and 3,800 new cases for a total of 331,174. There were 2,004 COVID-19 patients in hospital (13 more than yesterday - up 0.7%), 412 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (2 more than yesterday - up 0.5%) and 233 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (18 more than yesterday - up 8.4%).
Of the Commonwealth's four "key metrics" listed on page 2 of the report, the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 3,068 (421 less than yesterday - down 12.1%), 1,854% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 36% below the highest observed value of 4,780 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.0% (0 more than yesterday - up 0.6%), 675% 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 1,920 (25 more than yesterday - up 1.3%), 1,138% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 51% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 44 (1 less than yesterday - down 2.2%), 300% 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 3,247, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 36, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,413, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.8% (or 7.76% excluding higher education).
Day-to-day deaths up slightly; cases down and tests up, but positivity up a bit (presumably due to older test results finally showing up?). One thing nice to see - for once, the estimated active cases count is down. Much less nice to see - hospitalization counts are still going up; in fact, today is the first time since May 28 that the state has reported over two thousand COVID-19 patients hospitalized.
Governor Baker has finally gotten off his butt and taken some new action regarding public health, reducing most businesses to 25% of capacity as of the day after Christmas:
Indoor dining is still allowed, which leaves me more than a little bit skeptical that this will work as well as Baker clearly hopes it will. But it's certainly something; hopefully it'll be enough to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed as the Thanksgiving surge and the (likely) Christmas surge work their ways through the health care system.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 55 active and 484 cumulative cases as of December 22. 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 3,068 (421 less than yesterday - down 12.1%), 1,854% above the lowest observed value of 157 on July 4 and 36% below the highest observed value of 4,780 on December 7. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 6.0% (0 more than yesterday - up 0.6%), 675% 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 1,920 (25 more than yesterday - up 1.3%), 1,138% above the lowest observed value of 155 on August 26 and 51% below the highest observed value of 3,874 on April 27. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 44 (1 less than yesterday - down 2.2%), 300% 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 3,247, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 36, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,413, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 5.8% (or 7.76% excluding higher education).
Day-to-day deaths up slightly; cases down and tests up, but positivity up a bit (presumably due to older test results finally showing up?). One thing nice to see - for once, the estimated active cases count is down. Much less nice to see - hospitalization counts are still going up; in fact, today is the first time since May 28 that the state has reported over two thousand COVID-19 patients hospitalized.
Governor Baker has finally gotten off his butt and taken some new action regarding public health, reducing most businesses to 25% of capacity as of the day after Christmas:
Saying he was hoping to prevent a surge of coronavirus cases from the upcoming holidays, Governor Charlie Baker on Tuesday announced a slate of new temporary restrictions on businesses and gatherings.
Baker announced the restrictions, which take effect Dec. 26 and will last for at least two weeks, during a State House news conference.
Starting Saturday, Baker said, capacity limits for most industries will be lowered to 25 percent.
"Indoor and outdoor gathering limits will be reduced to 25 people outside and 10 people inside, including for events," Baker said. "This is part of what we must do during this critical period when the vaccine is just a few months away to slow the spread. If we can all agree to do the things that slow the spread over the next two weeks, it will help us work on building the bridge we all need to build to the vaccine."
Baker said the decision to reduce capacity limits wasn't made lightly.
"A decision to restrict capacity at so many businesses is an enormously difficult decision," he said. "We all know that these decisions carry very negative ramifications on peoples' livelihoods and their families. The economic package that was passed by Congress will go a long way in addressing some of the financial damage that these restrictions will have for individuals, families, and businesses. But we also know that more help is needed for businesses that are struggling to keep their lights on."
Baker said his administration is also putting together a "significant" economic relief fund for small businesses that will bear the brunt of the rollbacks. More information on that initiative will be released Wednesday, he said.
Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito also briefed reporters and detailed the industries subject to the 25 percent-capacity limit. Those industries, she said, include restaurants and personal services; theaters and performance venues; casinos; office spaces; places of worship; retail stores; driving and flight schools; indoor spaces at golf facilities; libraries; common areas of lodging; arcades and indoor recreation businesses; gyms; museums; cultural facilities; and guided tours.
Indoor dining is still allowed, which leaves me more than a little bit skeptical that this will work as well as Baker clearly hopes it will. But it's certainly something; hopefully it'll be enough to keep the hospitals from being overwhelmed as the Thanksgiving surge and the (likely) Christmas surge work their ways through the health care system.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 55 active and 484 cumulative cases as of December 22. 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.
Administrative Note
Date: 2020-12-22 10:47 pm (UTC)