Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 3rd, 2021 05:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 2 newly reported confirmed deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 17,718 deaths, 883 newly reported confirmed cases (1,171 less than yesterday - down 57.0%) for a total of 675,425 cases, and 33,448 newly reported molecular tests (48,035 less than yesterday - down 59.0%).
Note that the previous days's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 0.7 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 1 more than the previous day's values - up 200.0%. There were 684.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 198 more than the previous day's values - up 29.0%. There were 27,161.0 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 6,287 more than the previous day's values - up 23.1%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.54%, compared to 2.28% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 368 and 208 newly reported probable cases (157 more than yesterday - up 307.8%) for a total of 47,561. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 2 new deaths for a total of 18,086 and 1,091 new cases for a total of 722,986. There were 226 COVID-19 patients in hospital (11 more than yesterday - up 5.1%), 51 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 more than yesterday - up 2.0%) and 16 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 less than yesterday - down 15.8%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 598.0 (26 more than yesterday - up 4.5%), 834% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 91.0% below the highest observed value of 6,235.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.54% (0 more than yesterday - up 11.4%), 727% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 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 194.0 (10 more than yesterday - up 5.4%), 128% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 95% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 2.0 (1 less than yesterday - down 33.3%), 100% 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 8,997 non-ICU beds, of which 7,596 (84.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 175 (1.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,226 (13.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,321 ICU beds, of which 889 (67.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 51 (3.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 381 (28.8%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,967 non-ICU beds, of which 7,468 (83.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,334 (14.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,324 ICU beds, of which 914 (69.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 50 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 360 (27.2%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 218.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 2.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 106.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.18%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-over-day comparisons are tricky, as yesterday's report covered three days of data; however, today's newly reported cases are substantially higher than yesterday's report (when split across three days), so that's unhappy. Worse, hospitalizations keep going up, and the seven-day averages for cases, hospitalizations and percent-positive also keep going up. The only good news is that the hospitalizations are going up much slower than the cases are, which hopefully means the vaccines are working as advertised to prevent serious illness.
Meanwhile, despite guidance to the contrary from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Governor Charlie Baker is Just Saying No to school mask mandates:
Today, my town of Acton released "Updated Guidance" on the pandemic:
I note in particular that the town has yet to see any cases of the delta variant. Meanwhile, Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 5 active and 1,001 cumulative cases as of August 2. 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 0.7 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 1 more than the previous day's values - up 200.0%. There were 684.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 198 more than the previous day's values - up 29.0%. There were 27,161.0 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 6,287 more than the previous day's values - up 23.1%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.54%, compared to 2.28% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 368 and 208 newly reported probable cases (157 more than yesterday - up 307.8%) for a total of 47,561. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 2 new deaths for a total of 18,086 and 1,091 new cases for a total of 722,986. There were 226 COVID-19 patients in hospital (11 more than yesterday - up 5.1%), 51 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (1 more than yesterday - up 2.0%) and 16 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 less than yesterday - down 15.8%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 598.0 (26 more than yesterday - up 4.5%), 834% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 91.0% below the highest observed value of 6,235.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.54% (0 more than yesterday - up 11.4%), 727% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 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 194.0 (10 more than yesterday - up 5.4%), 128% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 95% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 2.0 (1 less than yesterday - down 33.3%), 100% 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 8,997 non-ICU beds, of which 7,596 (84.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 175 (1.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,226 (13.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,321 ICU beds, of which 889 (67.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 51 (3.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 381 (28.8%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,967 non-ICU beds, of which 7,468 (83.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,334 (14.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,324 ICU beds, of which 914 (69.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 50 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 360 (27.2%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 218.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 2.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 106.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.18%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-over-day comparisons are tricky, as yesterday's report covered three days of data; however, today's newly reported cases are substantially higher than yesterday's report (when split across three days), so that's unhappy. Worse, hospitalizations keep going up, and the seven-day averages for cases, hospitalizations and percent-positive also keep going up. The only good news is that the hospitalizations are going up much slower than the cases are, which hopefully means the vaccines are working as advertised to prevent serious illness.
Meanwhile, despite guidance to the contrary from both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics, Governor Charlie Baker is Just Saying No to school mask mandates:
Despite persistent calls from teachers unions this week for widespread mask-wearing in schools, Governor Charlie Baker dug in Tuesday, emphasizing he wants the decision to remain in local hands.
While saying the state will strongly recommend masks for unvaccinated students and staff this fall, he said school districts should decide what is best for their staff and students.
"I'm not going to get into making decisions that I believe, in many cases, ought to be driven, at the end of the day, by the folks at the local level who know those communities best," Baker said Tuesday at an event in Revere. "That said, it's a strong recommendation for K through six that kids should wear masks because there is no vaccine available for K through 6."
[ ... ]
Baker said Tuesday he issued a recommendation, rather than a mandate, to acknowledge that "different communities are in different places." While some communities have 85 to 95 percent of their eligible student body vaccinated, many other districts are seeing much smaller vaccination numbers, he said.
"I don't think you can apply a national standard to a state that is in the kind of space that we're in," he said.
Baker also wrongly claimed on Tuesday that the state's decision for vaccinated students and staff members to go mask-less is "consistent with CDC guidance." It is not; the CDC, as of last week, recommends all students, teachers, staff, and visitors wear masks in K-12 schools, no matter their vaccination status.
Today, my town of Acton released "Updated Guidance" on the pandemic:
On Saturday, July 31, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) increased the County's level of community transition from Moderate Risk to Substantial Risk, due to an increase in cases related to the COVID-19 Delta Variant. The Delta Variant is more transmissible than some other variants because it spreads easily and quickly.
Residents are urged to get vaccinated if they have not already done so. Vaccinations significantly reduce the risk of significant illness due to COVID-19, including the Delta Variant. To find a location where you can be vaccinated, visit vaxfinder.mass.gov.
While the Delta Variant is causing some cases of breakthrough symptomatic infection in the United States, the vast majority of COVID-19 hospitalizations and deaths nationwide are among unvaccinated individuals.
The most significant levels of spread, and most severe cases of illness and death associated with COVID-19 — including Delta Variant cases — are occurring in places with low vaccination rates. Additionally, vaccinated individuals represent a very small portion of total Delta Variant transmissions.
The CDC's information is countywide and not Acton-specific. The Acton Public Health Department and Acton Nursing Service have seen no cases of the Delta Variant.
I note in particular that the town has yet to see any cases of the delta variant. Meanwhile, Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 5 active and 1,001 cumulative cases as of August 2. 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.