Local COVID-19 updates
Aug. 25th, 2021 07:49 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 (13 less than yesterday - down 81.2%) for a total of 17,828 deaths, 1,400 newly reported confirmed cases (110 more than yesterday - up 8.5%) for a total of 700,577 cases, and 63,646 newly reported molecular tests (16,592 more than yesterday - up 35.3%).The seven day average positivity rate is 2.69%, compared to 2.72% yesterday. The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (1 more than yesterday) for a total of 371 and 95 newly reported probable cases (215 less than yesterday - down 69.4%) for a total of 49,671. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 4 new deaths for a total of 18,199 and 1,495 new cases for a total of 750,248. There were 569 COVID-19 patients in hospital (6 less than yesterday - down 1.0%), 145 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (5 more than yesterday - up 3.6%) and 72 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (9 more than yesterday - up 14.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 947.0 (24 less than yesterday - down 2.5%), 1,379% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 85.0% below the highest observed value of 6,233.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.69% (0 less than yesterday - down 1.3%), 775% 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 504.0 (18 more than yesterday - up 3.7%), 492% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 87% 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 (1 less than yesterday - down 20.0%), 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 8,890 non-ICU beds, of which 7,673 (86.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 424 (4.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 793 (8.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,316 ICU beds, of which 875 (66.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 145 (11.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 296 (22.5%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,883 non-ICU beds, of which 7,320 (82.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 435 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,128 (12.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,297 ICU beds, of which 825 (63.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 140 (10.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 332 (25.6%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 799.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 4.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 293.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.91%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Nice to see that yesterday's big leap in newly reported deaths wasn't repeated, and an actual drop in hospitalizations is great news; on the other hand, a day-over-day hike in newly reported cases is very much not good news. Neither is breaking the seven-hundred-thousand case milestone. Seven-day averages are also mixed, the good news being that the averages for cases, deaths and percent-positive all are lower than yesterday. The bad news, however, is that not only did the seven-day average for hospitalizations rise again, it's above 500 for the first time since May 7.
The big local story today is that the state has finally instituted a mask mandate - for public schools, at least:
One might wonder why Governor Baker changed his mind so suddenly. On the other hand, every county in the state is on the CDC's list of counties with sustained or high community transmission, so a true cynic might wonder why Baker hadn't changed his mind weeks earlier. Still, I do think masking up is an annoying but needful thing at this point in the local pandemic, so Baker's adminstration finally getting its act together is good news.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 8 active and 1,045 cumulative cases as of August 24. 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.
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 947.0 (24 less than yesterday - down 2.5%), 1,379% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 85.0% below the highest observed value of 6,233.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.69% (0 less than yesterday - down 1.3%), 775% 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 504.0 (18 more than yesterday - up 3.7%), 492% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 87% 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 (1 less than yesterday - down 20.0%), 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 8,890 non-ICU beds, of which 7,673 (86.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 424 (4.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 793 (8.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,316 ICU beds, of which 875 (66.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 145 (11.0%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 296 (22.5%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,883 non-ICU beds, of which 7,320 (82.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 435 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,128 (12.7%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,297 ICU beds, of which 825 (63.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 140 (10.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 332 (25.6%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 799.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 4.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 293.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.91%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Nice to see that yesterday's big leap in newly reported deaths wasn't repeated, and an actual drop in hospitalizations is great news; on the other hand, a day-over-day hike in newly reported cases is very much not good news. Neither is breaking the seven-hundred-thousand case milestone. Seven-day averages are also mixed, the good news being that the averages for cases, deaths and percent-positive all are lower than yesterday. The bad news, however, is that not only did the seven-day average for hospitalizations rise again, it's above 500 for the first time since May 7.
The big local story today is that the state has finally instituted a mask mandate - for public schools, at least:
Massachusetts public school students and staff are required to wear masks inside school buildings effective immediately, regardless of vaccination status, according to a mandate issued Wednesday by Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley.
Under the requirement, most people will be required to wear masks until at least Oct. 1, with just a handful of exceptions. After that date, schools that have 80 percent or more of their students and staff fully vaccinated will be allowed to drop the mandate for vaccinated people only; unvaccinated students and staff would still be required to wear masks.
Students under age 5 are strongly recommended — but not required — to wear a mask. Students and staff who cannot wear a mask for medical reasons and students who have behavioral concerns are also exempt. Students and staff can remove their masks indoors while eating, drinking, or during mask breaks.
Students can also remove their masks indoors if it is necessary to participate in an elective class, such as playing an instrument in a band, according to the official mandate, sent to districts on Wednesday.
All students and staff are required to wear masks on school buses due to a federal order.
Riley's order follows a Tuesday vote by the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education granting him the authority to mandate masks when he feels necessary. The purpose of the mandate is two-fold, according to a statement from the state last week: to create a uniform policy for all school systems to begin the year and to encourage more students and staff to get vaccinated.
Prior to the mandate, Governor Charlie Baker's administration had strongly recommended unvaccinated students and staff mask up, but had not explicitly recommended the same for vaccinated students. Baker had emphasized the importance of local control, urging districts to enact their own mask-wearing policies based on the needs of their community.
But the administration pivoted last week, telling reporters when pressed on the about-face that "we always make adjustments when we think we need to."
One might wonder why Governor Baker changed his mind so suddenly. On the other hand, every county in the state is on the CDC's list of counties with sustained or high community transmission, so a true cynic might wonder why Baker hadn't changed his mind weeks earlier. Still, I do think masking up is an annoying but needful thing at this point in the local pandemic, so Baker's adminstration finally getting its act together is good news.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 8 active and 1,045 cumulative cases as of August 24. 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.