Local (and not-so-local) COVID-19 updates
May. 19th, 2022 05:59 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 14 newly reported confirmed deaths (4 more than yesterday - up 40.0%) for a total of 19,315 deaths, 4,957 newly reported confirmed cases (1,009 more than yesterday - up 25.6%) for a total of 1,687,023 cases, and 56,593 newly reported molecular tests (4,221 more than yesterday - up 8.1%).The seven day average positivity rate is 9.35%, compared to 9.13% yesterday. Excluding higher education, the seven day average positivity rate is 10.62%; that rate was not reported yesterday. The state also reported 1 newly reported probable death (1 less than yesterday - down 50.0%) for a total of 1,153 and 680 newly reported probable cases (153 less than yesterday - down 18.4%) for a total of 148,642. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 15 new deaths for a total of 20,468 and 5,637 new cases for a total of 1,835,665. There were 866 COVID-19 patients in hospital (41 more than yesterday - up 5.0%), 74 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (4 less than yesterday - down 5.1%) and 26 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (3 less than yesterday - down 10.3%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 2,986.0 (2,986 more than yesterday), 4,565% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 88.0% below the highest observed value of 23,197.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 9.35% (0 more than yesterday - up 2.5%), 2,939% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 66% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 780.0 (20 more than yesterday - up 2.6%), 828% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 80% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 8.0 (same as yesterday), 700% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,905 non-ICU beds, of which 7,525 (84.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 792 (8.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 588 (6.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,245 ICU beds, of which 955 (76.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 74 (5.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 216 (17.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,926 non-ICU beds, of which 7,620 (85.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 747 (8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 559 (6.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,249 ICU beds, of which 969 (77.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 78 (6.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 202 (16.2%) remained available.
One week ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,855.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 664.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 8.24% (or 9.80% excluding higher education).
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,198.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 5.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 495.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 6.17% (or 7.92% excluding higher education).
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 351.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 9.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 359.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.05% (or 1.70% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 3,205 total cases, with a two-week case count of 169 cases, a daily incidence rate of 50.9 which is higher than last week, with a corresponding risk color code of red (if the state was still reporting color codes). Acton is also listed as having 100,116 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,804 and a two-week positive test count of 178, for a percent-positive rate of 9.87 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 1,682,066 total cases, with a two-week case count of 49,877 cases, a daily incidence rate of 51.2 which is higher than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 44,689,335 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 658,354 and a two-week positive test count of 53,390, for a percent-positive rate of 8.11 which is higher than last week.
As of July 1, 2021, the state is no longer reporting risk color codes. However, if it was, of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 62 would be coded gray (compared to 69 last week), 14 would be coded green (compared to 13 last week), and 23 would be coded yellow (compared to 42 last week).The remaining 252 towns would be coded red (compared to 227 last week): Abington, Acton, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Amesbury, Amherst, Andover, Arlington, Ashburnham, Ashland, Athol, Attleboro, Auburn, Ayer, Barnstable, Barre, Bedford, Belchertown, Bellingham, Belmont, Berkley, Beverly, Billerica, Blackstone, Bolton, Boston, Bourne, Boxborough, Boxford, Boylston, Braintree, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Carver, Charlton, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cheshire, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Concord, Dalton, Danvers, Dartmouth, Dedham, Deerfield, Dennis, Dighton, Douglas, Dover, Dracut, Dudley, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Eastham, Easthampton, Easton, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Granby, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Groton, Groveland, Hadley, Halifax, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanover, Hanson, Harvard, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holden, Holliston, Holyoke, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lanesborough, Lawrence, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Longmeadow, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marion, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mashpee, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Millis, Milton, Monson, Montague, Nahant, Nantucket, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newbury, Newburyport, Newton, Norfolk, North Adams, North Andover, North Attleborough, North Reading, Northborough, Northbridge, Norwell, Norwood, Orange, Orleans, Oxford, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Rehoboth, Revere, Rockland, Rockport, Rowley, Rutland, Salem, Salisbury, Sandwich, Saugus, Scituate, Seekonk, Sharon, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Somerville, Southampton, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Sterling, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Sunderland, Sutton, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Tewksbury, Tisbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Upton, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Webster, Wellesley, Wenham, West Boylston, West Bridgewater, West Brookfield, West Springfield, Westborough, Westfield, Westford, Westminster, Weston, Westport, Westwood, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Williamstown, Wilmington, Winchendon, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, Wrentham, and Yarmouth.
26 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Amherst, Athol, Barre, Bolton, Boxborough, Dighton, Eastham, Gardner, Groveland, Harvard, Hopedale, Kingston, Manchester, Marion, Mattapoisett, Mendon, Nahant, Oxford, Randolph, Rockland, Rowley, Somerset, Waltham, West Boylston, West Brookfield, and Worcester) and 1 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Hubbardston).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), none are coded gray, none are coded green, none are coded yellow, and 10 are coded red (Acton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford).
Of the 10 towns near my church, none are coded gray, none are coded green, one is coded yellow (Berlin), and 9 are coded red (Acton, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of May 18, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3220 counties nationwide, 1736 counties (53.91% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 512 counties (15.90% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 680 counties (21.12% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 292 counties (9.07% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts have a Community Tranmission Level of High.
Barnstable County has 367.150 cases per 100k, 11.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Berkshire County has 750.740 cases per 100k, 10.16 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Bristol County has 317.050 cases per 100k, 8.48 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Dukes County has 253.870 cases per 100k, 8.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Essex County has 380.340 cases per 100k, 10.02 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Franklin County has 297.810 cases per 100k, 7.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampden County has 481.800 cases per 100k, 11.81 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampshire County has 558.350 cases per 100k, 5.97 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Middlesex County has 491.220 cases per 100k, 8.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Nantucket County has 175.450 cases per 100k, 9.23 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Norfolk County has 391.500 cases per 100k, 9.66 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Plymouth County has 283.770 cases per 100k, 8.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Suffolk County has 418.460 cases per 100k, 7.72 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Worcester County has 358.890 cases per 100k, 8.17 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of May 19, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3224 counties nationwide: 297 counties (9.21%, representing 16.14% of the population) with High community level, 483 counties (14.98%, representing 29.43% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2444 counties (75.81%, representing 54.44% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported the following COVID Community Levels for the 14 counties in Massachusetts: 10 counties (representing 82.53% of the state's population) with High community level (Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester), and 4 counties (representing 17.47% of the state's population) with Medium community level (Bristol, Hampden, Hampshire, Nantucket).
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 344.62 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 745.93 cases per 100k, 17.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 8.7 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 322.18 cases per 100k, 9.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 253.87 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Essex County (population 789034) has 383.76 cases per 100k, 10.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 280.71 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 484.16 cases per 100k, 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 6.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 545.92 cases per 100k, 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 6.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 492.03 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 166.68 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 385.7 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 290.67 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 415.47 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 356.6 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
Yuck. Deaths, cases and hospitalizations all up compared to yesterday; today's 866 patients in hospital are the highest that count has been since February 15's report of 882. The seven-day cases average is still messed up due to yesterday's data issues; that being said, the official number is below three thousand for the first time this week, so that's something. Maybe. (The averages for percent-positive and hospitalizations are up again, though.)
The weekly city and town data is out as well; too gloomy to get into.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention haven't yet updated their Community Level map, but their May 19 calculations are available through their data portal. Nationally, the number of counties with High community level is up from 137 last week to 297 this week, and the number with Medium level is up from 456 last week to 483. The vast majority of counties (2444) still have Low level. Great news, right? Not if you factor population into account (which the CDC's page doesn't, but which their data does support). 16.14% of the US population lives in counties with High level, 24.93% in counties with Medium level, and 54.44% in counties with Low level. Another way to look at it: despite the wide swaths of light green on the CDC map, barely half the population lives there. (The Associated Press ran a story yesterday about how federal health officials thought "about a third of the U.S. population lives in areas that are considered at higher risk" - that was clearly based on last week's data.)
The Boston Public Health Commission posted a statement today urging people to take more precautions regarding COVID:
Alas, and to no surprise whatsoever, said statement didn't include any actual actions (like, say, a mask mandate) being announced.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 59 active and 3,319 cumulative cases as of May 18. The town's COVID-19 Information Center page has a new "COVID Updates - May 2022" section, reading as follows:
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.
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 2,986.0 (2,986 more than yesterday), 4,565% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 88.0% below the highest observed value of 23,197.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 9.35% (0 more than yesterday - up 2.5%), 2,939% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 66% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 780.0 (20 more than yesterday - up 2.6%), 828% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 80% below the highest observed value of 3,874.0 on 4/27/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 deaths is 8.0 (same as yesterday), 700% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,905 non-ICU beds, of which 7,525 (84.5%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 792 (8.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 588 (6.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,245 ICU beds, of which 955 (76.7%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 74 (5.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 216 (17.3%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported yesterday a total of 8,926 non-ICU beds, of which 7,620 (85.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 747 (8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 559 (6.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported yesterday a total of 1,249 ICU beds, of which 969 (77.6%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 78 (6.2%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 202 (16.2%) remained available.
One week ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,855.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 664.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 8.24% (or 9.80% excluding higher education).
Two weeks ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 2,198.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 5.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 495.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 6.17% (or 7.92% excluding higher education).
One year ago, the 7 day confirmed case average was 351.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 9.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 359.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.05% (or 1.70% excluding higher education).
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 3,205 total cases, with a two-week case count of 169 cases, a daily incidence rate of 50.9 which is higher than last week, with a corresponding risk color code of red (if the state was still reporting color codes). Acton is also listed as having 100,116 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 1,804 and a two-week positive test count of 178, for a percent-positive rate of 9.87 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 1,682,066 total cases, with a two-week case count of 49,877 cases, a daily incidence rate of 51.2 which is higher than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 44,689,335 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 658,354 and a two-week positive test count of 53,390, for a percent-positive rate of 8.11 which is higher than last week.
As of July 1, 2021, the state is no longer reporting risk color codes. However, if it was, of the 351 cites and towns in the Commonwealth, 62 would be coded gray (compared to 69 last week), 14 would be coded green (compared to 13 last week), and 23 would be coded yellow (compared to 42 last week).The remaining 252 towns would be coded red (compared to 227 last week): Abington, Acton, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Amesbury, Amherst, Andover, Arlington, Ashburnham, Ashland, Athol, Attleboro, Auburn, Ayer, Barnstable, Barre, Bedford, Belchertown, Bellingham, Belmont, Berkley, Beverly, Billerica, Blackstone, Bolton, Boston, Bourne, Boxborough, Boxford, Boylston, Braintree, Brewster, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Carver, Charlton, Chatham, Chelmsford, Cheshire, Chicopee, Clinton, Cohasset, Concord, Dalton, Danvers, Dartmouth, Dedham, Deerfield, Dennis, Dighton, Douglas, Dover, Dracut, Dudley, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Eastham, Easthampton, Easton, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Granby, Great Barrington, Greenfield, Groton, Groveland, Hadley, Halifax, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanover, Hanson, Harvard, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holden, Holliston, Holyoke, Hopedale, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Kingston, Lakeville, Lancaster, Lanesborough, Lawrence, Lee, Leicester, Lenox, Leominster, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Longmeadow, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marion, Marlborough, Marshfield, Mashpee, Mattapoisett, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Mendon, Methuen, Middleborough, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Millis, Milton, Monson, Montague, Nahant, Nantucket, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newbury, Newburyport, Newton, Norfolk, North Adams, North Andover, North Attleborough, North Reading, Northborough, Northbridge, Norwell, Norwood, Orange, Orleans, Oxford, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plainville, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Rehoboth, Revere, Rockland, Rockport, Rowley, Rutland, Salem, Salisbury, Sandwich, Saugus, Scituate, Seekonk, Sharon, Sheffield, Shrewsbury, Somerset, Somerville, Southampton, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Sterling, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Sturbridge, Sudbury, Sunderland, Sutton, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Tewksbury, Tisbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Upton, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Webster, Wellesley, Wenham, West Boylston, West Bridgewater, West Brookfield, West Springfield, Westborough, Westfield, Westford, Westminster, Weston, Westport, Westwood, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Williamstown, Wilmington, Winchendon, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, Wrentham, and Yarmouth.
26 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Amherst, Athol, Barre, Bolton, Boxborough, Dighton, Eastham, Gardner, Groveland, Harvard, Hopedale, Kingston, Manchester, Marion, Mattapoisett, Mendon, Nahant, Oxford, Randolph, Rockland, Rowley, Somerset, Waltham, West Boylston, West Brookfield, and Worcester) and 1 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Hubbardston).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), none are coded gray, none are coded green, none are coded yellow, and 10 are coded red (Acton, Boxborough, Carlisle, Chelmsford, Concord, Littleton, Maynard, Stow, Sudbury, and Westford).
Of the 10 towns near my church, none are coded gray, none are coded green, one is coded yellow (Berlin), and 9 are coded red (Acton, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, Stow, and Sudbury).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of May 18, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3220 counties nationwide, 1736 counties (53.91% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 512 counties (15.90% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 680 counties (21.12% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 292 counties (9.07% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts have a Community Tranmission Level of High.
Barnstable County has 367.150 cases per 100k, 11.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Berkshire County has 750.740 cases per 100k, 10.16 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Bristol County has 317.050 cases per 100k, 8.48 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Dukes County has 253.870 cases per 100k, 8.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Essex County has 380.340 cases per 100k, 10.02 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Franklin County has 297.810 cases per 100k, 7.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampden County has 481.800 cases per 100k, 11.81 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampshire County has 558.350 cases per 100k, 5.97 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Middlesex County has 491.220 cases per 100k, 8.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Nantucket County has 175.450 cases per 100k, 9.23 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Norfolk County has 391.500 cases per 100k, 9.66 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Plymouth County has 283.770 cases per 100k, 8.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Suffolk County has 418.460 cases per 100k, 7.72 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Worcester County has 358.890 cases per 100k, 8.17 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of May 19, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3224 counties nationwide: 297 counties (9.21%, representing 16.14% of the population) with High community level, 483 counties (14.98%, representing 29.43% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2444 counties (75.81%, representing 54.44% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported the following COVID Community Levels for the 14 counties in Massachusetts: 10 counties (representing 82.53% of the state's population) with High community level (Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester), and 4 counties (representing 17.47% of the state's population) with Medium community level (Bristol, Hampden, Hampshire, Nantucket).
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 344.62 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 745.93 cases per 100k, 17.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 8.7 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 322.18 cases per 100k, 9.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 253.87 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Essex County (population 789034) has 383.76 cases per 100k, 10.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 280.71 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 484.16 cases per 100k, 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 6.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 545.92 cases per 100k, 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 6.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 492.03 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 166.68 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 385.7 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 290.67 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 415.47 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 356.6 cases per 100k, 14.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of High.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
Yuck. Deaths, cases and hospitalizations all up compared to yesterday; today's 866 patients in hospital are the highest that count has been since February 15's report of 882. The seven-day cases average is still messed up due to yesterday's data issues; that being said, the official number is below three thousand for the first time this week, so that's something. Maybe. (The averages for percent-positive and hospitalizations are up again, though.)
The weekly city and town data is out as well; too gloomy to get into.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention haven't yet updated their Community Level map, but their May 19 calculations are available through their data portal. Nationally, the number of counties with High community level is up from 137 last week to 297 this week, and the number with Medium level is up from 456 last week to 483. The vast majority of counties (2444) still have Low level. Great news, right? Not if you factor population into account (which the CDC's page doesn't, but which their data does support). 16.14% of the US population lives in counties with High level, 24.93% in counties with Medium level, and 54.44% in counties with Low level. Another way to look at it: despite the wide swaths of light green on the CDC map, barely half the population lives there. (The Associated Press ran a story yesterday about how federal health officials thought "about a third of the U.S. population lives in areas that are considered at higher risk" - that was clearly based on last week's data.)
The Boston Public Health Commission posted a statement today urging people to take more precautions regarding COVID:
Citing rising COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations, Boston health officials on Thursday urged residents to take precautions to stave off the coronavirus, including getting tested, wearing masks indoors, and getting vaccinated and boosted.
"We have noted a significant increase in both COVID-19 cases and in hospitalizations," Dr. Bisola Ojikutu, executive director of the Boston Public Health Commission, said in a statement. "We need to decrease onward transmission to others. Please test prior to gatherings, wear a well-fitted mask in indoor settings, including public transportation and get boosted if you have not been already."
The state's largest city has seen a weekslong rise in cases and hospitalizations, the statement from the commission said. The city is now averaging 61 new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents per day and community test positivity is now at 11.5 percent.
Alas, and to no surprise whatsoever, said statement didn't include any actual actions (like, say, a mask mandate) being announced.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 59 active and 3,319 cumulative cases as of May 18. The town's COVID-19 Information Center page has a new "COVID Updates - May 2022" section, reading as follows:
Our current documented COVID numbers are 52. The current amount of COVID patients in Emerson hospital is 14 with only one in ICU (not intubated). Please remember this includes residents from all of Emerson catchment areas.
Also, the CDC has increased the metric for Middlesex County to red. The CDC determines the COVID -19 community level differently than previously done with the following three metrics:
New COVID-19 admissions per 100,000 population in the past 7 days.
The percent of staffed inpatient beds occupied by COVID-19 patients.
The total new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population in the past 7 days
It now measures the impact of COVID-19 illness on health and healthcare systems not just high transmission rates. Even though we are in the red, we are still seeing that immunity from vaccinated residents’ risk of severe illness is reduced for most people, however, those that are immunocompromised may be at higher risk for serious illness. The Town of Acton encourages those that are at high risk to be fully vaccinated and boosted.
Below are the current prevention steps, as recommended by the CDC that should be taken while Middlesex County remains with the red metric:
Wear a mask indoors in public
Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines
Get tested if you have symptoms and stay home if you are sick.
Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness
The Town of Acton will consider offering a booster dose clinic when those ages 5-12 can be boosted and if the need arises, but with the previous, low response to our school-aged boosted clinic for those 12+, we are concerned about vaccine waste. Currently, most pharmacies, including Acton Pharmacy, have been running clinics daily and helping those that are eligible as well as our homebound and housing authority residents. We will closely monitor and be prepared if the need arises.
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.