Local COVID-19 updates

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As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 68 newly reported confirmed deaths (13 more than yesterday - up 23.6%) for a total of 14,821 deaths, 1,319 newly reported confirmed cases (43 more than yesterday - up 3.4%) for a total of 519,125 cases, and 52,112 newly reported molecular tests (9,166 more than yesterday - up 21.3%). The seven day average positivity rate is 2.96%, compared to 2.96% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 4.70%, compared to 4.59% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 55,659 (2,780 less than yesterday - down 4.8%). The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (2 more than yesterday) for a total of 303 and 274 newly reported probable cases (181 more than yesterday - up 194.6%) for a total of 27,771. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 70 new deaths for a total of 15,124 and 1,593 new cases for a total of 546,896. There were 1,401 COVID-19 patients in hospital (14 more than yesterday - up 1.0%), 324 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (5 less than yesterday - down 1.5%) and 191 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 more than yesterday - up 1.6%).

Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,836.0 (210 less than yesterday - down 10.3%), 1,069% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 71.0% below the highest observed value of 6,242.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.96% (0 more than yesterday - up 0.2%), 285% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 89% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,495.0 (34 less than yesterday - down 2.2%), 864% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 62% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 45.0 (5 less than yesterday - down 10.0%), 309% above the lowest observed value of 11.0 on 9/9/2020 and 75% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.

Statewide, hospitals reported 9,093 non-ICU beds, of which 6,460 (71.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 1,077 (11.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,556 (17.1%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,465 ICU beds, of which 766 (52.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 324 (22.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 375 (25.6%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,057 non-ICU beds, of which 6,454 (71.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 1,058 (12%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,545 (17.1%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,469 ICU beds, of which 761 (51.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 329 (22.4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 379 (25.8%) remained available.

Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 3,011.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 55.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 2,072.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 4.77% (or 6.37% excluding higher education).

The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.

Day-to-day deaths are up, which is never good. So are cases, but not by a huge amount; tests are up far more, which does lend credence to the idea that maybe, just maybe, the spread of the coronavirus is actually slowing in Massachusetts. It is nice to see the newly reported case count below two thousand for two days running; the last time we saw that was on November 8 and 9 of last year.

And the state is beginning to actually make some progress getting folks vaccinated:

After weeks of missteps that left frustrated residents struggling to sign up for COVID-19 shots, there are increasing signs the Massachusetts vaccination campaign is picking up speed.

The number of doses injected jumped by nearly 40 percent since the start of the month, to more than 910,000 so far, marking the strongest period yet in a rollout that began in mid-December. And a week after they became eligible, more than 46 percent of the state's roughly 430,000 residents 75 and older were vaccinated.

State officials said 50,000 residents got shots on Monday alone, and 256,000 since the second phase of the rollout began Feb. 1.

The opening of mass vaccination sites has quickened the pace. In late January, thousands seeking shots were told there were none to be had. But as of Monday, more than 7,000 appointments were still available later this week at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough and a newly opened site at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, though officials said they thought most or all of the slots will be claimed.

"Things are getting better just these last couple of days," said Norwood health director Sigalle Reiss, president of the state health directors association. "People are finding they can get appointments, even if they're farther out, so stress levels are coming down."

[ ... ]

But state officials are still playing catch-up in vaccinations.

Massachusetts ranks 33rd among states in per capita doses administered, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention. Baker says that's partly because his administration initially allowed only front-line health workers and long-term care residents to be inoculated while other states cast a wider net. And despite a pledge to prioritize high-risk communities hit hardest by the coronavirus, white residents have received 14 times as many doses as Black residents and 11 times as many as Latino residents.

[ ... ]

While many older residents can't wait to be vaccinated, state officials acknowledge there are still many residents eligible for injections in the first phase of the rollout — first responders, prison inmates and workers, employees of group homes and other congregate care facilities — who have yet to be inoculated.

And the Baker administration hasn't said when it will move to the next stage of the rollout, when residents age 65 to 74 — a population numbering about 540,000 — along with those with two or more underlying health conditions, known as co-morbidities, qualify for shots. That will depend on how many people from the currently eligible groups can be vaccinated in the coming days and weeks.

"We'll move when we think we've done a pretty good job with the communities that are already eligible," the governor said.

Alas, no decisions yet on when they're going to let the next groups (folks aged 65-74, or with two or more comorbidities) start signing up.

The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 23 active and 709 cumulative cases as of February 8. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 2:30PM on February 3, 2021 reported 691 cumulative cases with 30 individuals in isolation, 631 persons recovered and 30 fatalities.