Local COVID-19 updates
Feb. 18th, 2021 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 61 newly reported confirmed deaths (6 more than yesterday - up 10.9%) for a total of 15,373 deaths, 1,803 newly reported confirmed cases (481 more than yesterday - up 36.4%) for a total of 534,827 cases, and 100,002 newly reported molecular tests (17,031 more than yesterday - up 20.5%). The seven day average positivity rate is 2.13%, compared to 2.20% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 3.61%, compared to 3.63% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 38,666 (1,250 less than yesterday - down 3.1%). The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 313 and 237 newly reported probable cases (199 more than yesterday - up 523.7%) for a total of 29,149. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 63 new deaths for a total of 15,686 and 2,040 new cases for a total of 563,976. There were 1,029 COVID-19 patients in hospital (59 less than yesterday - down 5.4%), 271 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (2 less than yesterday - down 0.7%) and 173 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (6 less than yesterday - down 3.4%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,199.0 (69 less than yesterday - down 5.4%), 663% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 81.0% below the highest observed value of 6,241.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.13% (0 less than yesterday - down 3.2%), 176% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 92% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,141.0 (41 less than yesterday - down 3.5%), 636% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 71% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 49.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 4.3%), 345% above the lowest observed value of 11.0 on 9/9/2020 and 72% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,203 non-ICU beds, of which 7,067 (76.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 758 (8.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,378 (15.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,448 ICU beds, of which 832 (57.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 271 (18.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 345 (23.8%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,168 non-ICU beds, of which 6,801 (74.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 815 (9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,552 (16.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,443 ICU beds, of which 817 (56.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 273 (18.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 353 (24.5%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,862.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 50.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,698.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.29% (or 5.17% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 733 total cases, with a two-week case count of 47 cases, a daily incidence rate of 14.1 which is higher than last week, and a risk color code of yellow. Acton is also listed as having 32,888 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 2,624 and a two-week positive test count of 52, for a percent-positive rate of 1.98 which is the same than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 533,024 total cases, with a two-week case count of 29,269 cases, a daily incidence rate of 30.0 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of yellow. Massachusetts is also listed as having 15,140,864 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,261,833 and a two-week positive test count of 34,108, for a percent-positive rate of 2.70 which is lower than last week.
Of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 98 are coded gray (compared to 82 last week), 21 are coded green (compared to 22 last week), and 166 are coded yellow (compared to 137 last week). The remaining 66 towns are coded red (compared to 110 last week): Abington, Acushnet, Ayer, Barnstable, Berkley, Blackstone, Bolton, Boxford, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Chatham, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Dighton, Douglas, Dracut, Fall River, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lawrence, Leominster, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Marion, Methuen, Middleborough, New Bedford, North Reading, Orleans, Oxford, Peabody, Plainville, Plymouth, Raynham, Revere, Rockland, Rutland, Saugus, Seekonk, Somerset, Southampton, Southbridge, Southwick, Springfield, Sterling, Sunderland, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Ware, West Bridgewater, Westminster, Westport, Weymouth, and Whitman.
2 cities/towns are newly coded red this week (Bolton, and Lancaster) and 46 cities/towns are no longer coded red this week (Adams, Attleboro, Auburn, Avon, Bellingham, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dennis, East Bridgewater, Eastham, Everett, Fairhaven, Foxborough, Great Barrington, Halifax, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanover, Hanson, Holbrook, Hudson, Hull, Lunenburg, Malden, Marlborough, Marshfield, Middleton, Monson, Norwood, Palmer, Paxton, Pembroke, Quincy, Randolph, Rochester, Salisbury, Sandwich, Shirley, Southborough, Spencer, Sutton, Townsend, Webster, West Brookfield, West Springfield, and Winchendon).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 3 are coded gray (Berlin, Harvard, and Stow), none are coded green, 6 are coded yellow (Acton, Boxborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, and Sudbury), and one is coded red (Bolton).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Sigh. Deaths and cases both up day-to-day; fortunately, the percent-positive ratio continues to trend downward, as do the hospitalization counts. Also good news: the number of cities with the highest, "red" risk color code is down substantially again; this week's count of 66 "red" towns is below one hundred for the first time since December 3 (when the count was 97).
Meanwhile, the state website that is supposed to help people find vaccination sites crashed hard this morning, the first day that folks 65+ or with multiple medical conditions were eligible to sign up for vaccinations:
Well, guess what, Governor? You're not the only one pissed off about this. You're just the guy who's supposed to be ensuring this stuff works. Did you learn nothing about massive website rollouts from the Tableau fiasco just six weeks ago?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 28 active and 739 cumulative cases as of February 17; I do wish I knew what their update schedule was. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 3PM on February 12, 2021 reported 717 cumulative cases with 25 individuals in isolation, 661 persons recovered and 31 fatalities.
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,199.0 (69 less than yesterday - down 5.4%), 663% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 81.0% below the highest observed value of 6,241.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.13% (0 less than yesterday - down 3.2%), 176% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 92% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,141.0 (41 less than yesterday - down 3.5%), 636% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 71% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 49.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 4.3%), 345% above the lowest observed value of 11.0 on 9/9/2020 and 72% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,203 non-ICU beds, of which 7,067 (76.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 758 (8.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,378 (15.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,448 ICU beds, of which 832 (57.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 271 (18.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 345 (23.8%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,168 non-ICU beds, of which 6,801 (74.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 815 (9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,552 (16.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,443 ICU beds, of which 817 (56.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 273 (18.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 353 (24.5%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,862.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 50.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,698.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 3.29% (or 5.17% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 733 total cases, with a two-week case count of 47 cases, a daily incidence rate of 14.1 which is higher than last week, and a risk color code of yellow. Acton is also listed as having 32,888 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 2,624 and a two-week positive test count of 52, for a percent-positive rate of 1.98 which is the same than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 533,024 total cases, with a two-week case count of 29,269 cases, a daily incidence rate of 30.0 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of yellow. Massachusetts is also listed as having 15,140,864 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,261,833 and a two-week positive test count of 34,108, for a percent-positive rate of 2.70 which is lower than last week.
Of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 98 are coded gray (compared to 82 last week), 21 are coded green (compared to 22 last week), and 166 are coded yellow (compared to 137 last week). The remaining 66 towns are coded red (compared to 110 last week): Abington, Acushnet, Ayer, Barnstable, Berkley, Blackstone, Bolton, Boxford, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Carver, Chatham, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Dighton, Douglas, Dracut, Fall River, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lawrence, Leominster, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Marion, Methuen, Middleborough, New Bedford, North Reading, Orleans, Oxford, Peabody, Plainville, Plymouth, Raynham, Revere, Rockland, Rutland, Saugus, Seekonk, Somerset, Southampton, Southbridge, Southwick, Springfield, Sterling, Sunderland, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Ware, West Bridgewater, Westminster, Westport, Weymouth, and Whitman.
2 cities/towns are newly coded red this week (Bolton, and Lancaster) and 46 cities/towns are no longer coded red this week (Adams, Attleboro, Auburn, Avon, Bellingham, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dennis, East Bridgewater, Eastham, Everett, Fairhaven, Foxborough, Great Barrington, Halifax, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanover, Hanson, Holbrook, Hudson, Hull, Lunenburg, Malden, Marlborough, Marshfield, Middleton, Monson, Norwood, Palmer, Paxton, Pembroke, Quincy, Randolph, Rochester, Salisbury, Sandwich, Shirley, Southborough, Spencer, Sutton, Townsend, Webster, West Brookfield, West Springfield, and Winchendon).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 3 are coded gray (Berlin, Harvard, and Stow), none are coded green, 6 are coded yellow (Acton, Boxborough, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, and Sudbury), and one is coded red (Bolton).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Sigh. Deaths and cases both up day-to-day; fortunately, the percent-positive ratio continues to trend downward, as do the hospitalization counts. Also good news: the number of cities with the highest, "red" risk color code is down substantially again; this week's count of 66 "red" towns is below one hundred for the first time since December 3 (when the count was 97).
Meanwhile, the state website that is supposed to help people find vaccination sites crashed hard this morning, the first day that folks 65+ or with multiple medical conditions were eligible to sign up for vaccinations:
Tens of thousands of newly eligible Massachusetts residents eager to use the state's vaxfinder tool to book COVID-19 shots Thursday encountered a maelstrom of website crashes, system errors, and notices telling them there were thousands of available appointments they were unable to get.
The "vax insanity," as infuriated vaccine hunters called it, dashed the hopes of residents age 65 to 74 and those with two or more chronic health conditions of being inoculated soon against a relentless coronavirus that has forced millions into virtual isolation for much of the past year.
"It's frustrating," said John Giudice, 68, of Lexington, who likened the experience to being trampled by a mob of baby boomers racing to buy tickets to a Rolling Stones concert. "Everyone is rushing for the door at the same time."
By midafternoon Thursday, many thousands who began refreshing their browsers in the early hours before 8 a.m., when state officials had promised to post 70,000 new vaccine appointments on their website, had given up at least temporarily. Thousands of others managed to reserve appointments through sheer persistence or dumb luck.
The system breakdown, which a chastened Governor Charlie Baker vowed to fix, was the latest stumble in a state vaccine rollout plagued by both supply constraints and increasingly vocal demands by segments of the population, from teachers to transit workers to meat packers, seeking faster access and complaining of being left behind.
"My hair's on fire about the whole thing," Baker said of the website fiasco during an afternoon interview on GBH radio. "I can't even begin to tell you how pissed off I am, and people are working really hard to get it fixed. And we know how important it is for people to have it fixed and to be able to access all those new appointments that went up on it."
[ ... ]
With the state expanding its eligibility ranks, almost 1 million more residents qualified for shots Thursday. About 1.1 million had previously been eligible, including health workers, first responders, and long-term-care residents. But citing supply shortages — the state expects only about 139,000 vaccine doses weekly in the near term — officials have warned it could take more than a month for all who want shots to book appointments.
In a phone call with state lawmakers Thursday, state Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said there were nearly 2 million clicks on the state's vaccine website in the morning and, despite the malfunction, tens of thousands of appointments posted were snapped up within an hour, according to state Representative Maria Robinson of Framingham.
"Everyone's extremely anxious to get appointments as soon as possible," Robinson said Thursday. "They should have been able to be able to predict there were going to be a lot of people on the website this morning. But even if the website worked, there are many people over 65 who wouldn't have been able to get appointments because of the supply."
Well, guess what, Governor? You're not the only one pissed off about this. You're just the guy who's supposed to be ensuring this stuff works. Did you learn nothing about massive website rollouts from the Tableau fiasco just six weeks ago?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 28 active and 739 cumulative cases as of February 17; I do wish I knew what their update schedule was. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 3PM on February 12, 2021 reported 717 cumulative cases with 25 individuals in isolation, 661 persons recovered and 31 fatalities.