Local COVID-19 updates
Mar. 29th, 2022 05:18 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 16 newly reported confirmed deaths (13 more than yesterday - up 433.3%) for a total of 18,988 deaths, 882 newly reported confirmed cases (1,548 less than yesterday - down 63.7%) for a total of 1,561,670 cases, and 36,818 newly reported molecular tests (72,818 less than yesterday - down 66.4%).
Note that today's death data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 5.3 newly reported deaths per day (2 more than yesterday - up 77.8%).
Note that yesterday's case/test data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 810.0 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 72 more than yesterday's values - up 8.9%. There were 36,545.3 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 273 more than yesterday's values - up 0.7%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.20%, compared to 2.02% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (6 less than yesterday) for a total of 1,109 and 67 newly reported probable cases (127 less than yesterday - down 65.5%) for a total of 134,080. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 16 new deaths for a total of 20,097 and 949 new cases for a total of 1,695,750. There were 215 COVID-19 patients in hospital (7 less than yesterday - down 3.2%), 22 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (12 less than yesterday - down 35.3%) and 9 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 less than yesterday - down 47.1%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 736.0 (46 less than yesterday - down 5.9%), 1,050% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 97.0% below the highest observed value of 23,204.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.20% (0 more than yesterday - up 8.6%), 614% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 92% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 223.0 (2 less than yesterday - down 0.9%), 165% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 95% 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 (same as yesterday), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,844 non-ICU beds, of which 7,461 (84.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 193 (2.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,190 (13.5%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,235 ICU beds, of which 910 (73.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 22 (1.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 303 (24.5%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,913 non-ICU beds, of which 7,739 (86.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 188 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 986 (11.1%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,255 ICU beds, of which 924 (73.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 34 (2.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 297 (23.7%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 460.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 10.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 250.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.58%.
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,637.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 27.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 635.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.37% (or 4.00% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of March 28, 2022, the CDC reported that, of 3219 counties nationwide, 462 counties (14.35% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 608 counties (18.89% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 1551 counties (48.18% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 598 counties (18.58% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 5 counties have a Community Transmission Level of High (Dukes, Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex, Suffolk), 9 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester), As of March 24, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3220 counties nationwide: 2934 counties (91.12%) with Low community level, 233 counties (7.24%) with Medium community level, and 53 counties (1.65%) with High community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Not good news at all. Raw deaths are up, which is to be expected given today's report covers three days; however, even averaged over three days, today's deaths are higher than yesterday's (single-day) report. Raw case counts are down, which is again to be expected given yesterday's report covered three days; however, today's cases are higher again than yesterday's numbers averaged over their three days of coverage. At least hospitalizations are down. The seven-day average for newly confirmed cases is down as well, but the percent-positive average is up again. The overall trend, in Massachusetts at least, still looks like cases and percent-positive moving upwards, which bodes ill for the near future.
Meanwhile, the media (or at least the Boston Globe) is begining to notice that cases have been ticking upwards locally again:
That article came out this afternoon, before today's state report. Glad to see someone besides myself is at least looking concerned.
In COVID vaccine news today, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized second booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for folks who are over 50 or are immunocompromised:
I got my (first) booster back on November 15, 2021, which was ... four and a half months ago. Hmmm.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 2,852 cumulative cases as of March 28. In 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 5.3 newly reported deaths per day (2 more than yesterday - up 77.8%).
Note that yesterday's case/test data covers 3 days. Averaged over that period, there were 810.0 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 72 more than yesterday's values - up 8.9%. There were 36,545.3 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 273 more than yesterday's values - up 0.7%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 2.20%, compared to 2.02% yesterday. The state also reported zero newly reported probable deaths (6 less than yesterday) for a total of 1,109 and 67 newly reported probable cases (127 less than yesterday - down 65.5%) for a total of 134,080. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 16 new deaths for a total of 20,097 and 949 new cases for a total of 1,695,750. There were 215 COVID-19 patients in hospital (7 less than yesterday - down 3.2%), 22 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (12 less than yesterday - down 35.3%) and 9 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 less than yesterday - down 47.1%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 736.0 (46 less than yesterday - down 5.9%), 1,050% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 97.0% below the highest observed value of 23,204.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 2.20% (0 more than yesterday - up 8.6%), 614% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 92% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 223.0 (2 less than yesterday - down 0.9%), 165% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 95% 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 (same as yesterday), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 175.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,844 non-ICU beds, of which 7,461 (84.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 193 (2.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 1,190 (13.5%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,235 ICU beds, of which 910 (73.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 22 (1.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 303 (24.5%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,913 non-ICU beds, of which 7,739 (86.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 188 (2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 986 (11.1%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,255 ICU beds, of which 924 (73.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 34 (2.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 297 (23.7%) remained available.
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 460.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 10.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 250.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.58%.
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,637.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 27.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 635.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.37% (or 4.00% excluding higher education).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of March 28, 2022, the CDC reported that, of 3219 counties nationwide, 462 counties (14.35% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 608 counties (18.89% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 1551 counties (48.18% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 598 counties (18.58% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 5 counties have a Community Transmission Level of High (Dukes, Franklin, Hampshire, Middlesex, Suffolk), 9 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Worcester), As of March 24, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3220 counties nationwide: 2934 counties (91.12%) with Low community level, 233 counties (7.24%) with Medium community level, and 53 counties (1.65%) with High community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Not good news at all. Raw deaths are up, which is to be expected given today's report covers three days; however, even averaged over three days, today's deaths are higher than yesterday's (single-day) report. Raw case counts are down, which is again to be expected given yesterday's report covered three days; however, today's cases are higher again than yesterday's numbers averaged over their three days of coverage. At least hospitalizations are down. The seven-day average for newly confirmed cases is down as well, but the percent-positive average is up again. The overall trend, in Massachusetts at least, still looks like cases and percent-positive moving upwards, which bodes ill for the near future.
Meanwhile, the media (or at least the Boston Globe) is begining to notice that cases have been ticking upwards locally again:
Two key COVID-19 measures in Massachusetts are edging higher, as experts and officials warily eye the arrival in the United States of the more-contagious BA.2 Omicron subvariant, hoping it will cause a bump in cases — not a major surge.
Coronavirus levels detected in Eastern Massachusetts waste water are ticking up slightly after bottoming out around the beginning of the month, according to data from the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority.
Confirmed reported COVID-19 cases have also been ticking up for about the past two weeks, according to Massachusetts Department of Public Health data.
Both metrics, however, are still only a tiny fraction of what they were during the peak of the Omicron surge early this year.
Experts and officials are concerned because of a recent wave of COVID-19 cases in some countries in Europe, which in the past has provided a preview of pandemic trends in America. The resurgence in Europe has been blamed on factors including the loosening of pandemic restrictions and the arrival of the more-infectious BA.2 variant, which the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Tuesday now accounts for more than 72 percent of cases in New England.
But experts have also suggested there also may be key differences, including the greater proportion of people here who have already been infected by Omicron and developed some immunity to BA.2.
A number of experts have said case increases are possible here, but they don't expect another major surge. Dr. Anthony Fauci, the nation's top infectious disease expert and an adviser to President Biden, told The Washington Post last week he wouldn't be surprised if there were "somewhat of an uptick." But, he said, "I don't really see, unless something changes dramatically, that there would be a major surge."
Matthew Fox, a professor of epidemiology and global health at the Boston University School of Public Health, said Tuesday he was hopeful a major surge was not ahead, noting that immunity from previous infections "should blunt this wave."
"We should be concerned but not overly concerned," he said in an e-mail. "If cases rise sharply, we should be prepared to mask for the duration of the wave and perhaps cut back on some higher risk events (indoor dining, large crowds) but I'm hopeful that we won't need much more than that."
That article came out this afternoon, before today's state report. Glad to see someone besides myself is at least looking concerned.
In COVID vaccine news today, the Food and Drug Administration has authorized second booster doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for folks who are over 50 or are immunocompromised:
Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration authorized a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or the Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for older people and certain immunocompromised individuals. The FDA previously authorized a single booster dose for certain immunocompromised individuals following completion of a three-dose primary vaccination series. This action will now make a second booster dose of these vaccines available to other populations at higher risk for severe disease, hospitalization and death. Emerging evidence suggests that a second booster dose of an mRNA COVID-19 vaccine improves protection against severe COVID-19 and is not associated with new safety concerns.
The agency amended the emergency use authorizations as follows:
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine or Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 50 years of age and older at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine.
- A second booster dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered to individuals 12 years of age and older with certain kinds of immunocompromise at least 4 months after receipt of a first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine. These are people who have undergone solid organ transplantation, or who are living with conditions that are considered to have an equivalent level of immunocompromise.
- A second booster dose of the Moderna COVID-19 Vaccine may be administered at least 4 months after the first booster dose of any authorized or approved COVID-19 vaccine to individuals 18 years of age and older with the same certain kinds of immunocompromise.
"Current evidence suggests some waning of protection over time against serious outcomes from COVID-19 in older and immunocompromised individuals. Based on an analysis of emerging data, a second booster dose of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Moderna COVID-19 vaccine could help increase protection levels for these higher-risk individuals," said Peter Marks, M.D., Ph.D., director of the FDA's Center for Biologics Evaluation and Research. "Additionally, the data show that an initial booster dose is critical in helping to protect all adults from the potentially severe outcomes of COVID-19. So, those who have not received their initial booster dose are strongly encouraged to do so."
I got my (first) booster back on November 15, 2021, which was ... four and a half months ago. Hmmm.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 11 active and 2,852 cumulative cases as of March 28. In 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.
(no subject)
Date: 2022-03-29 10:13 pm (UTC)(no subject)
Date: 2022-03-29 10:48 pm (UTC)I tried signing up online for an appointment at my local CVS, and their system hasn't yet been updated to reflect today's change.