Local COVID-19 updates
Nov. 24th, 2021 06:01 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeThe state will be taking tomorrow off for Thanksgiving, unsurprisingly:
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 18 newly reported confirmed deaths (6 less than yesterday - down 25.0%) for a total of 18,915 deaths, 2,978 newly reported confirmed cases (362 more than yesterday - up 13.8%) for a total of 841,972 cases, and 112,783 newly reported molecular tests (38,584 more than yesterday - up 52.0%).The seven day average positivity rate is 3.31%, compared to 3.28% yesterday. The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 414 and 444 newly reported probable cases (51 less than yesterday - down 10.3%) for a total of 62,435. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 20 new deaths for a total of 19,329 and 3,422 new cases for a total of 904,407. There were 764 COVID-19 patients in hospital (24 more than yesterday - up 3.2%), 165 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (11 more than yesterday - up 7.1%) and 89 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (9 more than yesterday - up 11.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,998.0 (29 more than yesterday - up 1.5%), 3,021% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 68.0% below the highest observed value of 6,229.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 3.31% (0 more than yesterday - up 0.9%), 975% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 88% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 691.0 (21 more than yesterday - up 3.1%), 712% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 83% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 11.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 22.2%), 1,000% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 94% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,987 non-ICU beds, of which 7,549 (84.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 599 (6.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 839 (9.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,259 ICU beds, of which 889 (70.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (13.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 205 (16.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,910 non-ICU beds, of which 7,314 (82.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 586 (7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,010 (11.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,246 ICU beds, of which 831 (66.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 154 (12.4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 261 (20.9%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,174.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 10.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 515.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.15%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-to-day deaths are down, but cases are way up again and hospitalizations are up a tad. The seven-day percent-positive average is still climbing, although at 3.31% it's still well below the 5% marker that supposedly means you're doing enough testing to actually know what's going on in your area. The other seven-day averages also are up compared to yesterday, and way up compared to, say, a couple of weeks ago. Overall, sucktastic news.
Yesterday, Governor Charlie Baker actually took some action in response to the worsening situation here in Massachusetts: he told hospitals to reduce non-urgent surgeries:
Well, I suppose reserving hospital capacity makes some sense, if you're concerned about hospitals being overwhelmed again. But why isn't the state taking steps to reduce the likelihood that they'd be overwhelmed in the first place?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 55 active and 1,315 cumulative cases as of November 24. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 1PM on November 22, 2021 reported 1304 cumulative cases with 54 individuals in isolation, 1218 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.
Please note: The daily COVID-19 Interactive Data Dashboard will not be posted on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25. Data from Wednesday, November 24 to Thursday, November 25 will be included in the dashboard published on Friday, November 26.But as for today:
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 18 newly reported confirmed deaths (6 less than yesterday - down 25.0%) for a total of 18,915 deaths, 2,978 newly reported confirmed cases (362 more than yesterday - up 13.8%) for a total of 841,972 cases, and 112,783 newly reported molecular tests (38,584 more than yesterday - up 52.0%).The seven day average positivity rate is 3.31%, compared to 3.28% yesterday. The state also reported 2 newly reported probable deaths (1 more than yesterday - up 100.0%) for a total of 414 and 444 newly reported probable cases (51 less than yesterday - down 10.3%) for a total of 62,435. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 20 new deaths for a total of 19,329 and 3,422 new cases for a total of 904,407. There were 764 COVID-19 patients in hospital (24 more than yesterday - up 3.2%), 165 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (11 more than yesterday - up 7.1%) and 89 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (9 more than yesterday - up 11.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,998.0 (29 more than yesterday - up 1.5%), 3,021% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 68.0% below the highest observed value of 6,229.0 on 1/8/2021. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 3.31% (0 more than yesterday - up 0.9%), 975% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 88% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 691.0 (21 more than yesterday - up 3.1%), 712% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 83% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 11.0 (2 more than yesterday - up 22.2%), 1,000% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 94% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,987 non-ICU beds, of which 7,549 (84.0%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 599 (6.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 839 (9.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,259 ICU beds, of which 889 (70.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 165 (13.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 205 (16.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,910 non-ICU beds, of which 7,314 (82.1%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 586 (7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,010 (11.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,246 ICU beds, of which 831 (66.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 154 (12.4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 261 (20.9%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,174.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 10.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 515.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.15%.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
Day-to-day deaths are down, but cases are way up again and hospitalizations are up a tad. The seven-day percent-positive average is still climbing, although at 3.31% it's still well below the 5% marker that supposedly means you're doing enough testing to actually know what's going on in your area. The other seven-day averages also are up compared to yesterday, and way up compared to, say, a couple of weeks ago. Overall, sucktastic news.
Yesterday, Governor Charlie Baker actually took some action in response to the worsening situation here in Massachusetts: he told hospitals to reduce non-urgent surgeries:
Beginning next week, hospitals in Massachusetts with limited capacity will be required to reduce certain non-urgent, scheduled procedures amid a strain on hospital capacity, the Baker administration announced Tuesday.
The new public health order goes into effect Nov. 29, the state's Executive Office of Health and Human Services said in a statement. It comes amid several contributing factors, including a staffing shortage, which has contributed to the loss of about 500 medical and intensive care unit beds, and a surge in hospitalizations that arises every year after Thanksgiving through January, the statement said.
"The current strain on hospital capacity is due to longer than average hospital stays and significant workforce shortages, separate and apart from the challenges brought on by COVID," Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders said in the statement. "COVID hospitalizations in Massachusetts remain lower than almost every other state in the nation, but the challenges the healthcare system face remain, and this order will ensure hospitals can serve all residents, including those who require treatment for COVID-19."
The statement noted that the reduction applies to procedures that are scheduled in advance because they are not an emergency, and delaying them will not result in adverse outcomes to the patient's health. It will not affect "urgent and essential procedures," the statement added.
Examples of the type of surgery that will be postponed are total knee and total hip replacements, which typically require a day or two in the hospital, said Dr. Eric Dickson, chairman of the board of the Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association.
"These are people that are having pain, and it is hardship to have them have to be pushed out," Dickson acknowledged. Dickson, who is also president and chief executive officer of UMass Memorial Health, said his hospital has already had to postpone some of these cases, and expects that 10 to 20 percent of booked surgeries at UMass will have to be rescheduled.
The hospital association worked with the state on a coordinated plan to ensure that emergency rooms across the state would have enough capacity, Dickson said.
Concern about a possible COVID-19 surge after Thanksgiving was one of many factors behind the decision, Dickson said. Hospitals are also heading into the flu season and contending with patients who are sicker than usual because they deferred care during the pandemic. One of the biggest issues is a workforce shortage at skilled nursing facilities, which limits their ability to accept patients leaving the hospital. As a result, patients who are ready for discharge are occupying hospital beds needed for others.
"I'm extremely concerned about our ability to meet the demands of the next six weeks or so," Dickson said.
Well, I suppose reserving hospital capacity makes some sense, if you're concerned about hospitals being overwhelmed again. But why isn't the state taking steps to reduce the likelihood that they'd be overwhelmed in the first place?
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 55 active and 1,315 cumulative cases as of November 24. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 1PM on November 22, 2021 reported 1304 cumulative cases with 54 individuals in isolation, 1218 persons recovered and 32 fatalities.