Local COVID-19 updates
Apr. 13th, 2021 05:55 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 7 newly reported confirmed deaths (12 less than yesterday - down 63.2%) for a total of 17,068 deaths, 1,401 newly reported confirmed cases (25 more than yesterday - up 1.8%) for a total of 622,662 cases, and 57,829 newly reported molecular tests (18,451 more than yesterday - up 46.9%). The seven day average positivity rate is 2.42%, compared to 2.30% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 4.21%, compared to 3.97% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 35,857 (918 less than yesterday - down 2.5%). The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 345 and 197 newly reported probable cases (41 more than yesterday - up 26.3%) for a total of 40,037. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 7 new deaths for a total of 17,413 and 1,598 new cases for a total of 662,699. There were 714 COVID-19 patients in hospital (15 more than yesterday - up 2.1%), 165 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (3 more than yesterday - up 1.9%) and 100 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (2 less than yesterday - down 2.0%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,460.0 (153 less than yesterday - down 9.5%), 829% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 77.0% below the highest observed value of 6,239.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.42% (0 more than yesterday - up 5.3%), 214% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 91% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 715.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 0.1%), 361% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 82% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 8.0 (1 less than yesterday - down 11.1%), 0% above the lowest observed value of 8.0 on 4/11/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,075 non-ICU beds, of which 7,109 (78.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 549 (6.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,417 (15.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,368 ICU beds, of which 821 (60.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (12.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 382 (27.9%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,083 non-ICU beds, of which 7,120 (78.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 537 (6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,426 (15.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,369 ICU beds, of which 819 (59.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 162 (11.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 388 (28.3%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,543.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 26.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 648.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.55% (or 4.25% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Definitely a mixed bag on the day-to-day numbers; deaths way down, cases up slightly, estimated active cases down slightly, hospitalizations and ICU counts both up, percent-positive also up. The seven-day averages for cases, deaths and percent-positive are all lower than two weeks ago, but the seven-day hospitalization average is higher.
Massachusetts today paused using the single-dose Johnson&Johnson vaccine after reports of a rare blood-clotting problem:
Well, I suppose something new had to go wrong, and a pause for further investigation is probably warranted (especially since the USA still has two other highly effective vaccines available).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 30 active and 914 cumulative cases as of April 13. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 4:45PM on April 13, 2021 reported 914 cumulative cases with 30 individuals in isolation, 852 persons recovered and 32 fatalities; that's 43 more cumulative cases, 51 more persons recovered and - fortunately - no more fatalities than the previous report at 1:30PM on April 3, 2021.
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,460.0 (153 less than yesterday - down 9.5%), 829% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 77.0% below the highest observed value of 6,239.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.42% (0 more than yesterday - up 5.3%), 214% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 91% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 715.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 0.1%), 361% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 82% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 8.0 (1 less than yesterday - down 11.1%), 0% above the lowest observed value of 8.0 on 4/11/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,075 non-ICU beds, of which 7,109 (78.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 549 (6.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,417 (15.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,368 ICU beds, of which 821 (60.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (12.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 382 (27.9%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,083 non-ICU beds, of which 7,120 (78.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 537 (6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,426 (15.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,369 ICU beds, of which 819 (59.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 162 (11.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 388 (28.3%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,543.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 26.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 648.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.55% (or 4.25% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Definitely a mixed bag on the day-to-day numbers; deaths way down, cases up slightly, estimated active cases down slightly, hospitalizations and ICU counts both up, percent-positive also up. The seven-day averages for cases, deaths and percent-positive are all lower than two weeks ago, but the seven-day hospitalization average is higher.
Massachusetts today paused using the single-dose Johnson&Johnson vaccine after reports of a rare blood-clotting problem:
Massachusetts and several other states, including Maine and Rhode Island, on Tuesday swiftly announced pauses of the administration of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, abiding by federal recommendations so officials can investigate reports of blood clots in six recipients out of the more than 6 million people who have received the single-dose shot.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health and the state's COVID-19 Command Center both confirmed the J&J pause in Massachusetts.
"This action is being taken out of an abundance of caution as the FDA and CDC review these 6 cases, none of which are known to be linked to Massachusetts," the Command Center said in a statement. "The FDA has reported over 6.8M doses of J&J have been administered nationwide. Individuals who have received a J&J vaccine should contact their physician if they have concerns."
According to the Baker administration, 181,034 residents received the J&J vaccine by April 12 out of a total of 1.7 million people considered by the state to be fully vaccinated.
Massachusetts lawmakerss on Tuesday questioned public health experts about the J&J news, during an unrelated hearing on the spread of COVID-19 variants.
"If one of the three vaccines either is not in use or has to be restricted … it will necessarily slow down the vaccine process," said Dr. Dan Barouch, head of the Center for Virology and Vaccine Research at Beth Israel and a leading vaccine developer, during the hearing. "But I think it's currently an area of uncertainty."
Dr. Benjamin Linas, a Boston University professor of epidemiology, told lawmakers that his biggest concern isn't safety issues, but what the news could mean for the public's confidence in getting vaccinated, since public health officials are already battling hesitancy.
"It's the potential damage that can be done to public trust," Linas said. "The fact that there is a brief pause here does not mean things are falling apart. It's actually quite the opposite. This is the system working."
[ ... ]
"I think that it's important to focus on safety — at this time, it seems that the J&J and Astra Zeneca vaccines, both of which are adenovirus-based delivery mechanisms, are noting some extremely rare but serious clotting complications that may be associated," said Dr. Abraar Karan in a email, an internist at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School.
He said investigation of the clotting is a necessary step.
"We need to investigate whether there is clear causality here given these are still very rare events — 6 cases out of greater than 6.8 million doses of the J&J administered," Karan said. "As the CDC/FDA noted, the combination of clots with low platelets is what is drawing forth more attention. Here, we should continue to look to the CDC and FDA regarding safety; I am appreciative of their quick action, transparency, and diligence."
Well, I suppose something new had to go wrong, and a pause for further investigation is probably warranted (especially since the USA still has two other highly effective vaccines available).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 30 active and 914 cumulative cases as of April 13. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 4:45PM on April 13, 2021 reported 914 cumulative cases with 30 individuals in isolation, 852 persons recovered and 32 fatalities; that's 43 more cumulative cases, 51 more persons recovered and - fortunately - no more fatalities than the previous report at 1:30PM on April 3, 2021.