Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 9th, 2021 05:30 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 3 newly reported confirmed deaths (1 more than Friday - up 50.0%) for a total of 17,730 deaths, 2,587 newly reported confirmed cases (1,476 more than Friday - up 132.9%) for a total of 681,131 cases, and 100,261 newly reported molecular tests (55,172 more than Friday - up 122.4%).
Note that today's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1.0 newly reported deaths per day (1 less than Friday - down 50.0%), 862.3 newly reported cases per day (249 less than Friday - down 22.4%), and 33,420.3 newly reported molecular tests per day (11,669 less than Friday - down 25.9%).
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.72%, compared to 2.65% Friday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as Friday) for a total of 368 and 65 newly reported probable cases (30 less than Friday - down 31.6%) for a total of 47,916. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 3 new deaths for a total of 18,098 and 2,652 new cases for a total of 729,047. There were 314 COVID-19 patients in hospital (43 more than Friday - up 15.9%), 76 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (15 more than Friday - up 24.6%) and 33 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (11 more than Friday - up 50.0%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 780.0 (89 more than Friday - up 12.9%), 1,118% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 88.0% below the highest observed value of 6,234.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.72% (0 more than Friday - up 2.6%), 783% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 90% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 263.0 (33 more than Friday - up 14.3%), 209% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 94% 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 more than Friday - up 100.0%), 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 8,965 non-ICU beds, of which 7,435 (82.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 238 (2.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,292 (14.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,342 ICU beds, of which 882 (65.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 76 (5.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 384 (28.6%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported Friday a total of 9,064 non-ICU beds, of which 7,895 (87.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 210 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 959 (10.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported Friday a total of 1,341 ICU beds, of which 961 (71.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 61 (4.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 319 (23.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 380.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 3.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 119.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.65%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
I'm still trying to figure the best way to deal with these three-day weekend reports; on the one hand, reporting was usually lighter on the weekends anyway, on the other, three days of stuff is likely to be more than one day of stuff. So the daily death count ticked up a bit, while the daily case count went up a bunch, but maybe down compared to Friday (if you spread the numbers over three days). In clearly not so good news, though, the hospitalization counts are up again, as are all four seven-day averages.
The only bit of good news that I can see remains the death rate, which is both quite low and still mostly trending downward; this is presumably due to the very high vaccination rates here in Massachusetts. The state today reported a cumulative total of 100 breakthrough deaths so far, a tiny fraction of the eighteen-thousand-plus confirmed and probable deaths statewide:
While there's no sign yet that Governor Charlie Baker is going to take any new action whatsoever regarding this current outbreak (except, perhaps, viewing with concern), the town of Belmont has reinstated an indoor mask mandate, effective as long as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Middlesex County as having either "substantial" or "high" transmission risk:
As of now, the CDC is showing thirteen of the fourteen counties in Massachusetts as having either "high" (Berkshire, Hampden, Bristol, Suffolk, Dukes and Nantucket) or "substantial" (Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable) levels of community transmission; only Hampshire County, in the western part of the state, is at the "moderate" level (where the CDC is not currently recommending mask usage for all indoors).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 10 active and 1,011 cumulative cases as of August 8. 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 today's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1.0 newly reported deaths per day (1 less than Friday - down 50.0%), 862.3 newly reported cases per day (249 less than Friday - down 22.4%), and 33,420.3 newly reported molecular tests per day (11,669 less than Friday - down 25.9%).
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.72%, compared to 2.65% Friday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as Friday) for a total of 368 and 65 newly reported probable cases (30 less than Friday - down 31.6%) for a total of 47,916. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 3 new deaths for a total of 18,098 and 2,652 new cases for a total of 729,047. There were 314 COVID-19 patients in hospital (43 more than Friday - up 15.9%), 76 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (15 more than Friday - up 24.6%) and 33 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (11 more than Friday - up 50.0%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 780.0 (89 more than Friday - up 12.9%), 1,118% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 88.0% below the highest observed value of 6,234.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.72% (0 more than Friday - up 2.6%), 783% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 90% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 263.0 (33 more than Friday - up 14.3%), 209% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 94% 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 more than Friday - up 100.0%), 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 8,965 non-ICU beds, of which 7,435 (82.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 238 (2.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,292 (14.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,342 ICU beds, of which 882 (65.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 76 (5.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 384 (28.6%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported Friday a total of 9,064 non-ICU beds, of which 7,895 (87.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 210 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 959 (10.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported Friday a total of 1,341 ICU beds, of which 961 (71.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 61 (4.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 319 (23.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 380.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 3.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 119.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.65%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
I'm still trying to figure the best way to deal with these three-day weekend reports; on the one hand, reporting was usually lighter on the weekends anyway, on the other, three days of stuff is likely to be more than one day of stuff. So the daily death count ticked up a bit, while the daily case count went up a bunch, but maybe down compared to Friday (if you spread the numbers over three days). In clearly not so good news, though, the hospitalization counts are up again, as are all four seven-day averages.
The only bit of good news that I can see remains the death rate, which is both quite low and still mostly trending downward; this is presumably due to the very high vaccination rates here in Massachusetts. The state today reported a cumulative total of 100 breakthrough deaths so far, a tiny fraction of the eighteen-thousand-plus confirmed and probable deaths statewide:
As of the end of July, 100 people in Massachusetts who had been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus had died from the disease, the Department of Public Health said.
In 73 percent of the cases, the patients were reported to have underlying conditions, the department said in a statement.
The median age of those who died was 82.5 years, the department also said. That means half the group was over that age and half was under.
The number of deaths was 0.002 percent of all fully vaccinated individuals, the department said.
[ ... ]
The department also reported that there had been 395 breakthrough hospitalizations, which was 0.009 percent of all fully vaccinated individuals. Fifty-seven percent of those hospitalized had underlying conditions.
The department said the numbers could be revised as officials continue to investigate the cases.
While there's no sign yet that Governor Charlie Baker is going to take any new action whatsoever regarding this current outbreak (except, perhaps, viewing with concern), the town of Belmont has reinstated an indoor mask mandate, effective as long as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention list Middlesex County as having either "substantial" or "high" transmission risk:
Amid climbing COVID-19 infections in Middlesex County, Belmont officials said Friday that indoor masking will be required again beginning Monday.
Officials agreed to adopt the protocol at an emergency meeting of the Select Board and Board of Health held Friday in response to rising rates of test positivity, according to a statement from the town.
The mandate includes all indoor public spaces and private spaces open to the public, with exemptions for children under 2 and those with medical conditions or disabilities that render them unable to wear a mask, according to the statement. People may also remove masks when seated at a table or a bar where they are eating or drinking.
The mandate comes after the Centers for Disease Control elevated the transmission rate for COVID-19 in Middlesex County to "substantial" last week.
The mandate will remain in effect as long as the CDC classifies Middlesex County as having either a "high" or "substantial" transmission rate for the virus and will be removed when transmission drops to a rating of "moderate" or "low," officals said.
As of now, the CDC is showing thirteen of the fourteen counties in Massachusetts as having either "high" (Berkshire, Hampden, Bristol, Suffolk, Dukes and Nantucket) or "substantial" (Franklin, Worcester, Middlesex, Essex, Norfolk, Plymouth and Barnstable) levels of community transmission; only Hampshire County, in the western part of the state, is at the "moderate" level (where the CDC is not currently recommending mask usage for all indoors).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 10 active and 1,011 cumulative cases as of August 8. 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.