Local COVID-19 updates
May. 13th, 2021 06:54 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeNo word as to why the data was delayed - again - but today's dashboard is finally available:
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 9 newly reported confirmed deaths (4 less than yesterday - down 30.8%) for a total of 17,366 deaths, 616 newly reported confirmed cases (10 less than yesterday - down 1.6%) for a total of 655,350 cases, and 73,865 newly reported molecular tests (2,851 less than yesterday - down 3.7%). The seven day average positivity rate is 1.15%, compared to 1.25% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 1.98%, compared to 2.14% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 15,833 (852 less than yesterday - down 5.1%). The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (same as yesterday) for a total of 356 and 105 newly reported probable cases (29 less than yesterday - down 21.6%) for a total of 44,558. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 10 new deaths for a total of 17,722 and 721 new cases for a total of 699,908. There were 385 COVID-19 patients in hospital (43 less than yesterday - down 10.0%), 111 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (3 less than yesterday - down 2.6%) and 70 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (6 less than yesterday - down 7.9%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 472.0 (35 less than yesterday - down 6.9%), 200% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 93.0% below the highest observed value of 6,238.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.15% (0 less than yesterday - down 7.8%), 50% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 96% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 436.0 (12 less than yesterday - down 2.7%), 181% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 89% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 7.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 16.7%), 16% above the lowest observed value of 6.0 on 5/12/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,227 non-ICU beds, of which 7,668 (83.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 274 (3.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,285 (13.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,381 ICU beds, of which 920 (66.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 111 (8.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 350 (25.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,186 non-ICU beds, of which 7,582 (82.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 314 (3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,290 (14.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,373 ICU beds, of which 922 (67.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 114 (8.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 337 (24.5%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 895.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 9.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 625.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.63% (or 2.78% 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 941 total cases, with a two-week case count of 14 cases, a daily incidence rate of 4.2 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of green. Acton is also listed as having 46,194 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,863 and a two-week positive test count of 16, for a percent-positive rate of 0.86 which is lower than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 654,734 total cases, with a two-week case count of 12,199 cases, a daily incidence rate of 12.5 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of gray. Massachusetts is also listed as having 22,116,958 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 974,004 and a two-week positive test count of 14,368, for a percent-positive rate of 1.48 which is lower than last week.
Of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 145 are coded gray (compared to 137 last week), 92 are coded green (compared to 56 last week), and 108 are coded yellow (compared to 145 last week). The remaining 6 towns are coded red (compared to 13 last week): Acushnet, Edgartown, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, and Taunton.
1 cities/towns are newly coded red this week (Acushnet) and 8 cities/towns are no longer coded red this week (Brockton, Chicopee, Dracut, Haverhill, Littleton, Nantucket, Rochester, and Springfield).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 7 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury), 3 are coded green (Acton, Hudson, and Marlborough), none are coded yellow, and none are coded red.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Pretty much all the day-to-day changes are for the better - deaths down, cases down, estimated active cases down, hospitalizations down, seven-day averages for cases, hospitalizations and percent-positive all down. The current hospitalization count, at 385, is below 400 for the first time since October 20, 2020. About the only less-than-great news is a slight uptick in the seven-day deaths average, and a slight downtick in the daily test count.
The weekly city/town numbers also look really good; only six communities are in the highest-risk category, down from thirteen last week; the number of communities in the medium risk (yellow) category is also down (108 this week compared to 145 last week). The state as a whole still meets the yellow criteria (daily incidence greater than 10 cases per 100k population, but positivity less than four percent). This isn't over yet, but it's beginning to look like it might get there.
The big news today: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have changed their guidance for fully vaccinated people, effective today. In summary,
Currently, Massachusetts still mandates mask wearing in indoor public spaces, and in outdoor public spaces when six feet of social distancing can't be maintained; there's also still a Federal mask requirement while on public transportation. I'm fine with continuing to mask up under those circumstances.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 971 cumulative cases as of May 12. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 6PM on April 27, 2021 reported 951 cumulative cases with 13 individuals in isolation, 906 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 9 newly reported confirmed deaths (4 less than yesterday - down 30.8%) for a total of 17,366 deaths, 616 newly reported confirmed cases (10 less than yesterday - down 1.6%) for a total of 655,350 cases, and 73,865 newly reported molecular tests (2,851 less than yesterday - down 3.7%). The seven day average positivity rate is 1.15%, compared to 1.25% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 1.98%, compared to 2.14% yesterday. The number of estimated active cases was 15,833 (852 less than yesterday - down 5.1%). The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (same as yesterday) for a total of 356 and 105 newly reported probable cases (29 less than yesterday - down 21.6%) for a total of 44,558. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 10 new deaths for a total of 17,722 and 721 new cases for a total of 699,908. There were 385 COVID-19 patients in hospital (43 less than yesterday - down 10.0%), 111 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (3 less than yesterday - down 2.6%) and 70 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (6 less than yesterday - down 7.9%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 472.0 (35 less than yesterday - down 6.9%), 200% above the lowest observed value of 157.0 on 7/4/2020 and 93.0% below the highest observed value of 6,238.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.15% (0 less than yesterday - down 7.8%), 50% above the lowest observed value of 0.8% on 9/21/2020 and 96% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 436.0 (12 less than yesterday - down 2.7%), 181% above the lowest observed value of 155.0 on 8/26/2020 and 89% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 7.0 (1 more than yesterday - up 16.7%), 16% above the lowest observed value of 6.0 on 5/12/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 9,227 non-ICU beds, of which 7,668 (83.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 274 (3.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,285 (13.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,381 ICU beds, of which 920 (66.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 111 (8.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 350 (25.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 9,186 non-ICU beds, of which 7,582 (82.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 314 (3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,290 (14.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,373 ICU beds, of which 922 (67.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 114 (8.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 337 (24.5%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 895.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 9.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 625.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.63% (or 2.78% 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 941 total cases, with a two-week case count of 14 cases, a daily incidence rate of 4.2 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of green. Acton is also listed as having 46,194 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,863 and a two-week positive test count of 16, for a percent-positive rate of 0.86 which is lower than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 654,734 total cases, with a two-week case count of 12,199 cases, a daily incidence rate of 12.5 which is lower than last week, and a risk color code of gray. Massachusetts is also listed as having 22,116,958 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 974,004 and a two-week positive test count of 14,368, for a percent-positive rate of 1.48 which is lower than last week.
Of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 145 are coded gray (compared to 137 last week), 92 are coded green (compared to 56 last week), and 108 are coded yellow (compared to 145 last week). The remaining 6 towns are coded red (compared to 13 last week): Acushnet, Edgartown, Lawrence, Lowell, New Bedford, and Taunton.
1 cities/towns are newly coded red this week (Acushnet) and 8 cities/towns are no longer coded red this week (Brockton, Chicopee, Dracut, Haverhill, Littleton, Nantucket, Rochester, and Springfield).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 7 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury), 3 are coded green (Acton, Hudson, and Marlborough), none are coded yellow, and none are coded red.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Pretty much all the day-to-day changes are for the better - deaths down, cases down, estimated active cases down, hospitalizations down, seven-day averages for cases, hospitalizations and percent-positive all down. The current hospitalization count, at 385, is below 400 for the first time since October 20, 2020. About the only less-than-great news is a slight uptick in the seven-day deaths average, and a slight downtick in the daily test count.
The weekly city/town numbers also look really good; only six communities are in the highest-risk category, down from thirteen last week; the number of communities in the medium risk (yellow) category is also down (108 this week compared to 145 last week). The state as a whole still meets the yellow criteria (daily incidence greater than 10 cases per 100k population, but positivity less than four percent). This isn't over yet, but it's beginning to look like it might get there.
The big news today: the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have changed their guidance for fully vaccinated people, effective today. In summary,
fully vaccinated people no longer need to wear a mask or physically distance in any setting, except where required by federal, state, local, tribal, or territorial laws, rules, and regulations, including local business and workplace guidanceOr, as the Associated Press reports:
WASHINGTON (AP) — In a major step toward returning to pre-pandemic life, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eased mask-wearing guidance for fully vaccinated people on Thursday, allowing them to stop wearing masks outdoors in crowds and in most indoor settings.
“Today is a great day for America,” President Joe Biden said during a Rose Garden address heralding the new guidance.
“If you are fully vaccinated, you no longer need to wear a mask,” he said, summarizing the new guidance and encouraging more Americans to roll up their sleeves. “Get vaccinated — or wear a mask until you do.”
The guidance still calls for wearing masks in crowded indoor settings like buses, planes, hospitals, prisons and homeless shelters, but it will help clear the way for reopening workplaces, schools, and other venues — even removing the need for social distancing for those who are fully vaccinated.
[ ... ]
The new guidance is likely to open the door to confusion, since there is no surefire way for businesses or others to distinguish between those who are fully vaccinated and those who are not. Walensky and Biden said people who are not fully vaccinated should continue to wear masks indoors.
“We’ve gotten this far — please protect yourself until you get to the finish line,” Biden said, noting that most Americans under 65 are not yet fully vaccinated. He said the government was not going to enforce the mask wearing guidance on those not yet fully vaccinated.
“We’re not going to go out and arrest people,” added Biden, who said he believes the American people want to take care of their neighbors. “If you haven’t been vaccinated, wear your mask for your own protection and the protection of the people who also have not been vaccinated yet.”
Currently, Massachusetts still mandates mask wearing in indoor public spaces, and in outdoor public spaces when six feet of social distancing can't be maintained; there's also still a Federal mask requirement while on public transportation. I'm fine with continuing to mask up under those circumstances.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 971 cumulative cases as of May 12. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 6PM on April 27, 2021 reported 951 cumulative cases with 13 individuals in isolation, 906 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.