Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 17th, 2021 05:26 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 6 newly reported confirmed deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 17,784 deaths, 1,254 newly reported confirmed cases (1,742 less than yesterday - down 58.1%) for a total of 690,268 cases, and 47,047 newly reported molecular tests (70,304 less than yesterday - down 59.9%).
Note that the previous days's data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 2.0 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 4 more than the previous day's values - up 200.0%. There were 998.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 255 more than the previous day's values - up 25.6%. There were 39,117.0 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 7,930 more than the previous day's values - up 20.3%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.82%, compared to 2.74% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 370 and 214 newly reported probable cases (117 more than yesterday - up 120.6%) for a total of 48,779. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 6 new deaths for a total of 18,154 and 1,468 new cases for a total of 739,047. There were 428 COVID-19 patients in hospital (26 more than yesterday - up 6.5%), 86 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (4 more than yesterday - up 4.9%) and 40 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (2 more than yesterday - up 5.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 891.0 (20 less than yesterday - down 2.2%), 1,292% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 86.0% below the highest observed value of 6,233.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.82% (0 more than yesterday - up 2.7%), 815% 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 377.0 (15 more than yesterday - up 4.1%), 343% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 91% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 4.0 (2 less than yesterday - down 33.3%), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/12/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,892 non-ICU beds, of which 7,340 (82.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 342 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,210 (13.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,324 ICU beds, of which 851 (64.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 86 (6.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 387 (29.2%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,909 non-ICU beds, of which 7,360 (82.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 320 (4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,229 (13.8%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,327 ICU beds, of which 873 (65.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 82 (6.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 372 (28.0%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 598.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 2.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 194.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.54%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Compared to yesterday, newly reported deaths held steady while newly reported cases dropped. OTOH, yesterday's data covered three calendar days; compared to the per-day averages, newly reported deaths and cases are way up. That's not good. Neither is the continued increases in hospitalizations.
Last night, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (the largest public school teachers union in the Commonwealth) voted to support mandating vaccinations in public schools:
Not that Governor Charlie Baker is in the least bit interested in mandating anything, if he can possibly avoid doing so, except in-person education. He's all for making sure kids are in classrooms (and thus freeing parents up to go back to in-person jobs).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 10 active and 1,027 cumulative cases as of August 16. 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 2.0 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 4 more than the previous day's values - up 200.0%. There were 998.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 255 more than the previous day's values - up 25.6%. There were 39,117.0 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 7,930 more than the previous day's values - up 20.3%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.82%, compared to 2.74% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (same as yesterday) for a total of 370 and 214 newly reported probable cases (117 more than yesterday - up 120.6%) for a total of 48,779. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 6 new deaths for a total of 18,154 and 1,468 new cases for a total of 739,047. There were 428 COVID-19 patients in hospital (26 more than yesterday - up 6.5%), 86 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (4 more than yesterday - up 4.9%) and 40 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (2 more than yesterday - up 5.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 891.0 (20 less than yesterday - down 2.2%), 1,292% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 86.0% below the highest observed value of 6,233.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.82% (0 more than yesterday - up 2.7%), 815% 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 377.0 (15 more than yesterday - up 4.1%), 343% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 91% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 4.0 (2 less than yesterday - down 33.3%), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/12/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,892 non-ICU beds, of which 7,340 (82.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 342 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,210 (13.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,324 ICU beds, of which 851 (64.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 86 (6.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 387 (29.2%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,909 non-ICU beds, of which 7,360 (82.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 320 (4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,229 (13.8%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,327 ICU beds, of which 873 (65.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 82 (6.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 372 (28.0%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 598.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 2.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 194.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.54%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Compared to yesterday, newly reported deaths held steady while newly reported cases dropped. OTOH, yesterday's data covered three calendar days; compared to the per-day averages, newly reported deaths and cases are way up. That's not good. Neither is the continued increases in hospitalizations.
Last night, the Massachusetts Teachers Association (the largest public school teachers union in the Commonwealth) voted to support mandating vaccinations in public schools:
With the start of the new school year on the horizon, the leadership of the largest teachers union in Massachusetts voted Monday night to support a vaccine mandate for school employees and eligible students statewide.
The motion, approved by the Massachusetts Teachers Association's board of directors by a 46 to 4 vote, states the group supports required vaccinations or regular COVID-19 testing for those who are not vaccinated. Districts should negotiate the specifics of vaccine requirements with their local teachers unions, the group said.
"We must do everything in our power to protect students, educators, public health, and all of our communities — including communities of color, which, because of structural racism, have been hit the hardest by the coronavirus pandemic," union President Merrie Najimy said in a statement Tuesday.
"By taking this step, the MTA continues to play a lead role in advocating for what we all want the most: to be in our classrooms with our students in a safe environment," she added. "Requiring vaccines for educators and eligible students is a reasonable measure to take for the common good."
Earlier this month, the union's board voted to urge Governor Charlie Baker and state education leaders to enact a mask mandate for teachers and students in schools buildings, regardless of vaccination status. The union continued its push for universal masking on Tuesday and criticized the state for not having "contingency plans for what will happen if the pandemic resurgence continues or worsens."
Not that Governor Charlie Baker is in the least bit interested in mandating anything, if he can possibly avoid doing so, except in-person education. He's all for making sure kids are in classrooms (and thus freeing parents up to go back to in-person jobs).
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 10 active and 1,027 cumulative cases as of August 16. 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.