Edmund Schweppe (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
edschweppe) wrote2022-02-15 05:22 pm
edschweppe) wrote2022-02-15 05:22 pm
Entry tags:
Local COVID-19 updates
As of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 90 newly reported confirmed deaths (24 more than yesterday - up 36.4%) for a total of 22,278 deaths, 1,459 newly reported confirmed cases (2,404 less than yesterday - down 62.2%) for a total of 1,523,991 cases, and 37,062 newly reported molecular tests (123,076 less than yesterday - down 76.9%).
Note that today's death data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 30.0 newly reported deaths per day (36 less than yesterday - down 54.5%).
Note that yesterday's case/test data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,287.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 171 more than yesterday's values - up 13.3%. There were 53,379.3 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 16,317 less than yesterday's values - down 30.6%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 3.09%, compared to 3.00% yesterday. The state also reported 28 newly reported probable deaths (28 more than yesterday) for a total of 696 and 225 newly reported probable cases (85 less than yesterday - down 27.4%) for a total of 130,522. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 118 new deaths for a total of 22,974 and 1,684 new cases for a total of 1,654,513. There were 882 COVID-19 patients in hospital (142 less than yesterday - down 13.9%), 168 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (20 less than yesterday - down 10.6%) and 77 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (17 less than yesterday - down 18.1%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,335.0 (254 less than yesterday - down 16.0%), 1,985% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 95.0% below the highest observed value of 23,178.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 3.09% (0 more than yesterday - up 3.1%), 904% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 89% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,066.0 (188 less than yesterday - down 15.0%), 1,154% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 73% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 37.0 (9 less than yesterday - down 19.6%), 3,600% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 79% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,863 non-ICU beds, of which 7,232 (81.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 714 (8.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 917 (10.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,247 ICU beds, of which 830 (66.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 168 (13.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 249 (20.0%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,975 non-ICU beds, of which 7,330 (81.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 836 (9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 809 (9.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,270 ICU beds, of which 855 (67.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 188 (14.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 227 (17.9%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 3,772.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 51.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 2,298.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.13%.
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,579.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 44.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,258.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.19% (or 3.52% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
A classic mixed bag of data today. Deaths are up compared to the previous report and cases are down; unsurprising, since yesterday's case counts and today's death counts both cover three days of data. In much less pleasant news, today's one-day case total is actually higher than the average over three days of yesterday's report. Also unpleasantly, the seven-day percent-positive average ticked up slightly compared to yesterday, although at 3.09% it's still a great improvement over earlier this year. Hospitalizations are down again, which is good; in fact, today's report of 882 COVID-19 patients is the first time all year that number's been reported below a thousand, and is the lowest value reported since the 839 patients reported on November 29, 2021. While percent-positive is up slightly, the other three seven-day averages all dropped compared to yesterday's report.
The big news today locally is that the Commonwealth has dropped its recommendation that everyone mask up indoors:
The updated state mask advisory/requirements page now states:
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 30 active and 2,738 cumulative cases as of February 9, and apparently has not been updated since. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 7PM on December 21, 2021, the town reported 1538 cumulative cases with 89 individuals in isolation, 1417 recovered and 32 fatalities.
Note that today's death data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 30.0 newly reported deaths per day (36 less than yesterday - down 54.5%).
Note that yesterday's case/test data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,287.7 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 171 more than yesterday's values - up 13.3%. There were 53,379.3 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 16,317 less than yesterday's values - down 30.6%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 3.09%, compared to 3.00% yesterday. The state also reported 28 newly reported probable deaths (28 more than yesterday) for a total of 696 and 225 newly reported probable cases (85 less than yesterday - down 27.4%) for a total of 130,522. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 118 new deaths for a total of 22,974 and 1,684 new cases for a total of 1,654,513. There were 882 COVID-19 patients in hospital (142 less than yesterday - down 13.9%), 168 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (20 less than yesterday - down 10.6%) and 77 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (17 less than yesterday - down 18.1%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 1,335.0 (254 less than yesterday - down 16.0%), 1,985% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 95.0% below the highest observed value of 23,178.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 3.09% (0 more than yesterday - up 3.1%), 904% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 89% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 1,066.0 (188 less than yesterday - down 15.0%), 1,154% above the lowest observed value of 85.0 on 7/9/2021 and 73% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 37.0 (9 less than yesterday - down 19.6%), 3,600% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 79% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,863 non-ICU beds, of which 7,232 (81.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 714 (8.1%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 917 (10.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,247 ICU beds, of which 830 (66.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 168 (13.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 249 (20.0%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,975 non-ICU beds, of which 7,330 (81.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 836 (9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 809 (9.0%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,270 ICU beds, of which 855 (67.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 188 (14.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 227 (17.9%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 3,772.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 51.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 2,298.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.13%.
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,579.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 44.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 1,258.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.19% (or 3.52% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
A classic mixed bag of data today. Deaths are up compared to the previous report and cases are down; unsurprising, since yesterday's case counts and today's death counts both cover three days of data. In much less pleasant news, today's one-day case total is actually higher than the average over three days of yesterday's report. Also unpleasantly, the seven-day percent-positive average ticked up slightly compared to yesterday, although at 3.09% it's still a great improvement over earlier this year. Hospitalizations are down again, which is good; in fact, today's report of 882 COVID-19 patients is the first time all year that number's been reported below a thousand, and is the lowest value reported since the 839 patients reported on November 29, 2021. While percent-positive is up slightly, the other three seven-day averages all dropped compared to yesterday's report.
The big news today locally is that the Commonwealth has dropped its recommendation that everyone mask up indoors:
he state Department of Public Health on Tuesday loosened its recommendation on indoor masking in public places, advising that it is only necessary for certain groups of people, including those at risk because they are more vulnerable to COVID-19.
In December, as the Omicron variant fueled a major surge, the department advised all residents, regardless of vaccination status, to wear masks when indoors and not in their own homes.
On Tuesday, the department said, "DPH now advises that a fully vaccinated person should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system and is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated."
[ ... ]
Separately Tuesday, Dr. Carole E. Allen, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, issued a statement laying out what her organization described as "insight about steps that should be taken as we move forward" in battling the pandemic.
"Recent trends are encouraging and demonstrate the efficacy of vaccines and mitigation tactics, and the rapid development of therapeutics show promise toward offering an additional safeguard for the immunocompromised and vulnerable," Allen said. "It is appropriate to begin conversations about transitioning at a thoughtful and measured pace, and safely balancing risk and our shared desire to get back to a semblance of our pre-pandemic lives."
Allen said there's reason for optimism but stressed that it's "not time to declare victory" over the virus.
"It will take some time for our health care system to catch up with patients who have deferred care, and staffing issues continue to challenge many of our health care institutions," Allen said. "Increasing infection rates in other parts of the country and the world present a continued challenge. With the likelihood that COVID-19 is here to stay for the foreseeable future, we must continue to encourage vaccines and boosters that are proven to reduce hospitalizations and death. We must also be fully prepared to adjust mitigation recommendations when surveillance and data reveal or predict a renewed spike in cases."
[ ... ]
Allen of the medical society said Tuesday that officials must respond to future COVID-19 variants prudently.
"We must meet future encounters with COVID-19 and emerging variants by drawing on science and robust data to communicate accurate and trustworthy information," Allen said. "We must assure the ability and willingness to make a swift return to preventive measures when required to limit of the impact on health care and daily activities, including work and learning."
The updated state mask advisory/requirements page now states:
Effective February 15, 2022: A fully vaccinated individual should wear a mask indoors if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated.A link is provided to the updated guidance document (68k PDF), which states in relevant part:
Recognizing that Massachusetts is a national leader in vaccine acceptance, and in light of recent positive progress on COVID-19 indicators, the Department of Public Health now advises that a fully vaccinated person should wear a mask or face covering when indoors (and not in your own home) if you have a weakened immune system, or if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition, or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease or is unvaccinated.So, apparently, cases dropping from skyhigh Omicron levels is good enough to say "fuck it, let it rip!", even though we're at basically the same average levels for deaths, cases, percent-positive and hospitalizations as we were in the middle of February 2021 - when, as one might recall, only the most elderly people were vaccinated and the state's mass-vaccination program was completely shitting the bed. (Okay, to be fair, Phase 2 Group 1 (age 75+) opened up on February 1 without too many problems. Phase 2 Group 2 (age 65+ and/or two+ certain medical conditions and/or low-income or affordable senior housing residents) opened up on February 18 - and the signup website crashed hard.)
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 30 active and 2,738 cumulative cases as of February 9, and apparently has not been updated since. The most recent "newsflash style update" at 7PM on December 21, 2021, the town reported 1538 cumulative cases with 89 individuals in isolation, 1417 recovered and 32 fatalities.