Local (and not-so-local) COVID-19 updates
Oct. 20th, 2021 08:47 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 11 newly reported confirmed deaths (14 less than yesterday - down 56.0%) for a total of 18,485 deaths, 1,355 newly reported confirmed cases (533 less than yesterday - down 28.2%) for a total of 783,533 cases, and 88,044 newly reported molecular tests (1,317 more than yesterday - up 1.5%).The seven day average positivity rate is 1.82%, compared to 1.74% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (1 less than yesterday) for a total of 390 and 115 newly reported probable cases (42 less than yesterday - down 26.8%) for a total of 56,284. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 11 new deaths for a total of 18,875 and 1,470 new cases for a total of 839,817. There were 559 COVID-19 patients in hospital (20 less than yesterday - down 3.5%), 144 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (6 less than yesterday - down 4.0%) and 73 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (2 less than yesterday - down 2.7%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 995.0 (46 less than yesterday - down 4.4%), 1,454% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 85.0% below the highest observed value of 6,230.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.82% (0 more than yesterday - up 4.7%), 490% 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 553.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 0.4%), 550% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 86% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 9.0 (same as yesterday), 800% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 95% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,974 non-ICU beds, of which 7,809 (87.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 415 (4.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 750 (8.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,276 ICU beds, of which 895 (70.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 144 (11.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 237 (18.6%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,828 non-ICU beds, of which 7,430 (84.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 429 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 969 (11.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,265 ICU beds, of which 852 (67.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 150 (11.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 263 (20.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 970.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 12.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 602.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.83%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-over-day deaths are down a bunch, which is certainly good. Day-over-day cases are also down; alas, I have no way to tell how much of that is due to the recent reporting issues. Hospitalizations are also down day-over-day. The seven-day averages for cases is down, but those for percent-positive and hospitalizations are up.
The big news today, of course, is on the COVID vaccine booster front; the Food and Drug Adminstration today authorized a third shot for folks originally vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, and a second shot for those with the Johnson & Johnson one:
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still have to issue their recommendations, and the devil is always in the details. But I suspect I'll be getting a Moderna booster in the not too distant future.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 1,175 cumulative cases as of October 19. 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 995.0 (46 less than yesterday - down 4.4%), 1,454% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 85.0% below the highest observed value of 6,230.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 1.82% (0 more than yesterday - up 4.7%), 490% 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 553.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 0.4%), 550% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 86% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 9.0 (same as yesterday), 800% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 95% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,974 non-ICU beds, of which 7,809 (87.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 415 (4.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 750 (8.4%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,276 ICU beds, of which 895 (70.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 144 (11.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 237 (18.6%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,828 non-ICU beds, of which 7,430 (84.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 429 (5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 969 (11.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,265 ICU beds, of which 852 (67.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 150 (11.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 263 (20.8%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 970.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 12.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 602.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.83%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-over-day deaths are down a bunch, which is certainly good. Day-over-day cases are also down; alas, I have no way to tell how much of that is due to the recent reporting issues. Hospitalizations are also down day-over-day. The seven-day averages for cases is down, but those for percent-positive and hospitalizations are up.
The big news today, of course, is on the COVID vaccine booster front; the Food and Drug Adminstration today authorized a third shot for folks originally vaccinated with the Moderna vaccine, and a second shot for those with the Johnson & Johnson one:
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. regulators on Wednesday signed off on extending COVID-19 boosters to Americans who got the Moderna or Johnson & Johnson vaccine and said anyone eligible for an extra dose can get a brand different from the one they received initially.
The Food and Drug Administration's decisions mark a big step toward expanding the U.S. booster campaign, which began with extra doses of the Pfizer vaccine last month. But before more people roll up their sleeves, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will consult an expert panel Thursday before finalizing official recommendations for who should get boosters and when.
The latest moves would expand by tens of millions the number of Americans eligible for boosters and formally allow "mixing and matching" of shots — making it simpler to get another dose, especially for people who had a side effect from one brand but still want the proven protection of vaccination.
Specifically, the FDA authorized a third Moderna shot for seniors and others at high risk from COVID-19 because of their health problems, jobs or living conditions — six months after their last shot. One big change: Moderna's booster will be half the dose that's used for the first two shots, based on company data showing that was plenty to rev up immunity again.
For J&J's single-shot vaccine, the FDA said all U.S. recipients, no matter their age, could get a second dose at least two months following their initial vaccination.
[ ... ]
As for mixing and matching, the FDA said it's OK to use any brand for the booster regardless of which vaccination people got first. The interchangeability of the shots is expected to speed the booster campaign, particularly in nursing homes and other institutional settings where residents have received different shots over time.
FDA's acting commissioner Dr. Janet Woodcock said the agency wanted to make its booster guidance as flexible as possible, given that many people don't remember which brand they first received. In other cases, some people may want to try a different vaccine if they previously experienced common side effects like muscle ache or chills.
Still, regulators said it's likely many people will stick with the same vaccine brand.
The decision was based on preliminary results from a government study of different booster combinations that showed an extra dose of any type revs up levels of virus-fighting antibodies. That study also showed recipients of the single-dose J&J vaccination had a far bigger response if they got a full-strength Moderna booster or a Pfizer booster rather than a second J&J shot. The study didn't test the half-dose Moderna booster.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still have to issue their recommendations, and the devil is always in the details. But I suspect I'll be getting a Moderna booster in the not too distant future.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 1,175 cumulative cases as of October 19. 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.