Local (and not-so-local) COVID-19 updates
Jul. 27th, 2021 05:53 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 12 newly reported confirmed deaths (5 more than yesterday - up 71.4%) for a total of 17,697 deaths, 657 newly reported confirmed cases (586 less than yesterday - down 47.1%) for a total of 670,304 cases, and 31,281 newly reported molecular tests (43,562 less than yesterday - down 58.2%).
Note that the previous days's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 2.3 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 10 more than the previous day's values - up 414.3%. There were 414.3 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 243 more than the previous day's values - up 58.6%. There were 24,947.7 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 6,333 more than the previous day's values - up 25.4%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 1.83%, compared to 1.65% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 368 and 175 newly reported probable cases (146 more than yesterday - up 503.4%) for a total of 46,980. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 12 new deaths for a total of 18,065 and 832 new cases for a total of 717,284. There were 152 COVID-19 patients in hospital (7 more than yesterday - up 4.8%), 33 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 more than yesterday - up 3.1%) and 17 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 more than yesterday - up 21.4%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 400.0 (20 more than yesterday - up 5.3%), 525% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 94.0% below the highest observed value of 6,235.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.83% (0 more than yesterday - up 11.1%), 495% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 93% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 124.0 (5 more than yesterday - up 4.2%), 45% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 97% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 3.0 (same as yesterday), 200% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/12/2021 and 99% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,950 non-ICU beds, of which 7,561 (84.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 119 (1.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,270 (14.2%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,327 ICU beds, of which 918 (69.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 33 (2.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 376 (28.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,952 non-ICU beds, of which 7,539 (84.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 113 (1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,300 (14.5%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,336 ICU beds, of which 917 (68.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 32 (2.4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 387 (29.0%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 110.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 1.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 90.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 0.62%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
The day-over-day changes aren't great, and are even worse when trying to correct for yesterday's report having three days of data. Deaths were up a bunch, compared to either the average or the total count from yesterday's report. Today's cases were down slightly compared to the three-day total, but way up compared to that average. Hospitalizations are up again, as are all four seven-day averages.
Back on May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dramatically eased their mask-wearing guidance, announcing that those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer needed to wear masks in most public settings. Today, citing the spread of the Delta variant, the CDC changed their guidance significantly, recommending mask wearing in public indoor settings, depending on local transmission rates and personal health issues:
More details here from the Associated Press:
Yep, I'll keep wearing masks while indoors in public for the forseeable future. Even though it sucks.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 8 active and 994 cumulative cases as of July 26. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 11:45AM on May 28, 2021 reported 978 cumulative cases with 3 individuals in isolation, 943 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.
Note that the previous days's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 2.3 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 10 more than the previous day's values - up 414.3%. There were 414.3 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 243 more than the previous day's values - up 58.6%. There were 24,947.7 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 6,333 more than the previous day's values - up 25.4%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 1.83%, compared to 1.65% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 368 and 175 newly reported probable cases (146 more than yesterday - up 503.4%) for a total of 46,980. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 12 new deaths for a total of 18,065 and 832 new cases for a total of 717,284. There were 152 COVID-19 patients in hospital (7 more than yesterday - up 4.8%), 33 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 more than yesterday - up 3.1%) and 17 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 more than yesterday - up 21.4%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 400.0 (20 more than yesterday - up 5.3%), 525% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 94.0% below the highest observed value of 6,235.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.83% (0 more than yesterday - up 11.1%), 495% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 93% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 124.0 (5 more than yesterday - up 4.2%), 45% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 97% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 3.0 (same as yesterday), 200% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/12/2021 and 99% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,950 non-ICU beds, of which 7,561 (84.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 119 (1.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,270 (14.2%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,327 ICU beds, of which 918 (69.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 33 (2.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 376 (28.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,952 non-ICU beds, of which 7,539 (84.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 113 (1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,300 (14.5%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,336 ICU beds, of which 917 (68.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 32 (2.4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 387 (29.0%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 110.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 1.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 90.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 0.62%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
The day-over-day changes aren't great, and are even worse when trying to correct for yesterday's report having three days of data. Deaths were up a bunch, compared to either the average or the total count from yesterday's report. Today's cases were down slightly compared to the three-day total, but way up compared to that average. Hospitalizations are up again, as are all four seven-day averages.
Back on May 13, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention dramatically eased their mask-wearing guidance, announcing that those fully vaccinated against COVID-19 no longer needed to wear masks in most public settings. Today, citing the spread of the Delta variant, the CDC changed their guidance significantly, recommending mask wearing in public indoor settings, depending on local transmission rates and personal health issues:
* Updated information for fully vaccinated people given new evidence on the B.1.617.2 (Delta) variant currently circulating in the United States.
* Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people to wear a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high transmission.
* Added information that fully vaccinated people might choose to wear a mask regardless of the level of transmission, particularly if they are immunocompromised or at increased risk for severe disease from COVID-19, or if they have someone in their household who is immunocompromised, at increased risk of severe disease or not fully vaccinated.
* Added a recommendation for fully vaccinated people who have a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 to be tested 3-5 days after exposure, and to wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
* CDC recommends universal indoor masking for all teachers, staff, students, and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
More details here from the Associated Press:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reversed course Tuesday on some masking guidelines, recommending that even vaccinated people return to wearing masks indoors in parts of the U.S. where the coronavirus is surging.
Citing new information about the ability of the delta variant to spread among vaccinated people, the CDC also recommended indoor masks for all teachers, staff, students and visitors to schools, regardless of vaccination status.
The new guidance follows recent decisions in Los Angeles and St. Louis to revert to indoor mask mandates amid a spike in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations that have been especially bad in the South. The country is averaging more than 57,000 cases a day and 24,000 COVID-19 hospitalizations.
Most new infections in the U.S. continue to be among unvaccinated people. But "breakthrough" infections, which generally cause milder illness, can occur in vaccinated people. When earlier strains of the virus predominated, infected vaccinated people were found to have low levels of virus and were deemed unlikely to spread the virus much, CDC Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said.
But with the delta variant, the level of virus in infected vaccinated people is "indistinguishable" from the level of virus in the noses and throats of unvaccinated people, Walensky said.
The data emerged over the last couple of days from 100 samples. It is unpublished, and the CDC has not released it. But "it is concerning enough that we feel like we have to act," Walensky said.
Vaccinated people "have the potential to spread that virus to others," she said.
Yep, I'll keep wearing masks while indoors in public for the forseeable future. Even though it sucks.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 8 active and 994 cumulative cases as of July 26. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 11:45AM on May 28, 2021 reported 978 cumulative cases with 3 individuals in isolation, 943 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.