Local COVID-19 updates
Mar. 24th, 2021 05:25 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 54 newly reported confirmed deaths (34 more than yesterday - up 170.0%) for a total of 16,632 deaths, 1,865 newly reported confirmed cases (389 more than yesterday - up 26.4%) for a total of 584,024 cases, and 106,349 newly reported molecular tests (57,249 more than yesterday - up 116.6%). The seven day average positivity rate is 2.23%, compared to 2.20% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 3.85%, compared to 3.72% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 27,374 (368 more than yesterday - up 1.4%). The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (same as yesterday) for a total of 338 and 256 newly reported probable cases (89 less than yesterday - down 25.8%) for a total of 35,792. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 55 new deaths for a total of 16,970 and 2,121 new cases for a total of 619,816. There were 628 COVID-19 patients in hospital (20 more than yesterday - up 3.3%), 147 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 less than yesterday - down 0.7%) and 86 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (same as yesterday).
Today being Wednesday, the weekly data points were also updated. The average age of hospitalized patients over the past week is 63 (2 more than last week - up 3.3%) while the average age of deaths over the last two weeks is 77 (same as last week). The fourteen-day average test turnaround time (from sample draw to DPH report) is 1.27 (compared to 1.45 last week). The average daily incidence per 100k population over the last 14 days is 21.5 (compared to 19.5 last week).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,292.0 (11 more than yesterday - up 0.9%), 722% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 80.0% below the highest observed value of 6,240.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.23% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.5%), 189% 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 600.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 0.2%), 287% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 85% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 29.0 (4 more than yesterday - up 16.0%), 163% above the lowest observed value of 11.0 on 9/9/2020 and 84% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,149 non-ICU beds, of which 7,325 (80.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 481 (5.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,343 (14.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,400 ICU beds, of which 891 (63.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 147 (10.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 362 (25.9%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,058 non-ICU beds, of which 7,021 (77.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 460 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,577 (17.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,392 ICU beds, of which 815 (58.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 148 (10.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 429 (30.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,002.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 30.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 704.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.77% (or 3.01% excluding higher education). Four weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,157.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 38.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 956.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.89% (or 3.09% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-to-day, frankly, stinks. Newly reported confirmed cases and deaths both up, as are all four seven-day averages. Compared to two weeks ago, the seven-day averages for hospitalizations and deaths are down, which is clearly good; however, the averages for cases and percent-positive are higher today compared to both two weeks ago and four weeks ago. This is not what I would call an improvement.
And especially not when the state is seeing more and more cases of coronavirus variants:
I don't know about you, Governor Baker, but rising case counts and positive test rates don't strike me as consistent with loosening coronavirus restrictions. But what do I know?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 17 active and 826 cumulative cases as of March 23, there were 18 active cases and 822 cumulative cases on March 22 . The most recent "newsflash style update" at 2PM on March 19, 2021 reported 813 cumulative cases with 9 individuals in isolation, 772 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.
Today being Wednesday, the weekly data points were also updated. The average age of hospitalized patients over the past week is 63 (2 more than last week - up 3.3%) while the average age of deaths over the last two weeks is 77 (same as last week). The fourteen-day average test turnaround time (from sample draw to DPH report) is 1.27 (compared to 1.45 last week). The average daily incidence per 100k population over the last 14 days is 21.5 (compared to 19.5 last week).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,292.0 (11 more than yesterday - up 0.9%), 722% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 80.0% below the highest observed value of 6,240.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.23% (0 more than yesterday - up 1.5%), 189% 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 600.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 0.2%), 287% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 85% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 29.0 (4 more than yesterday - up 16.0%), 163% above the lowest observed value of 11.0 on 9/9/2020 and 84% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,149 non-ICU beds, of which 7,325 (80.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 481 (5.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,343 (14.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,400 ICU beds, of which 891 (63.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 147 (10.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 362 (25.9%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,058 non-ICU beds, of which 7,021 (77.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 460 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,577 (17.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,392 ICU beds, of which 815 (58.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 148 (10.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 429 (30.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,002.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 30.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 704.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.77% (or 3.01% excluding higher education). Four weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,157.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 38.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 956.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.89% (or 3.09% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-to-day, frankly, stinks. Newly reported confirmed cases and deaths both up, as are all four seven-day averages. Compared to two weeks ago, the seven-day averages for hospitalizations and deaths are down, which is clearly good; however, the averages for cases and percent-positive are higher today compared to both two weeks ago and four weeks ago. This is not what I would call an improvement.
And especially not when the state is seeing more and more cases of coronavirus variants:
Massachusetts has now seen 441 confirmed cases of the worrisome coronavirus variant that first emerged in Britain, officials said, as concerns lingered about another possible coronavirus surge driven by variants.
The state has also seen four cases of the variant that emerged in Brazil, and nine cases of the variant that emerged in South Africa, according to figures posted Tuesday evening on the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website and confirmed by the state health department.
The CDC says the numbers are based on just a sampling of specimens and do not represent the total number of cases that may be circulating. The agency says it is "monitoring the situation closely."
The British variant spreads more easily and quickly. Some studies have suggested it is also more deadly. CDC models project the variant will become the dominant strain in the United States by the end of this month or early April.
Officials are worried the variants could drive a new coronavirus surge even as the country races to get people vaccinated.
"The continued relaxation of prevention measures while cases are still high and while concerning variants are spreading rapidly throughout the United States is a serious threat to the progress we have made as a nation," CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky warned in a briefing Monday by the White House coronavirus response team.
Governor Charlie Baker has been loosening coronavirus restriction in Massachusetts. On Tuesday, testifying before a legislative committee, he defended taking those steps even as the variants spread, saying the state was in a different position than other states.
"Obviously, we're continuing to see variants here in Massachusetts, which is consistent with what people are seeing in other places," he said. "But I think in some ways where we are in Massachusetts, both with respect to the case counts, hospitalizations, positive test rates, and all the rest, is not the same place that many other states are in. And, as a result, we've tried to tailor the decisions we've made to be consistent with that."
I don't know about you, Governor Baker, but rising case counts and positive test rates don't strike me as consistent with loosening coronavirus restrictions. But what do I know?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 17 active and 826 cumulative cases as of March 23, there were 18 active cases and 822 cumulative cases on March 22 . The most recent "newsflash style update" at 2PM on March 19, 2021 reported 813 cumulative cases with 9 individuals in isolation, 772 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.