Local COVID-19 updates
Sep. 1st, 2022 05:36 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today (Thursday September 01, 2022), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 49 newly reported confirmed deaths (11 more than last Thursday - up 28.9%) for a total of 20,112 deaths, 7,790 newly reported confirmed cases (162 less than last Thursday - down 2.0%) for a total of 1,845,953 cases, and 109,815 newly reported molecular tests (3,411 less than last Thursday - down 3.0%). Note that today's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 7.0 newly reported deaths per day (31 less than last Thursday - down 81.6%).
Note that today's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,112.9 newly reported cases per day (6,839 less than last Thursday - down 86.0%), and 15,687.9 newly reported molecular tests per day (97,538 less than last Thursday - down 86.1%).
Note that last Thursday's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 5.4 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 44 more than last Thursday's values - up 802.6%.
Note that last Thursday's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,136.0 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 6,654 more than last Thursday's values - up 585.7%. There were 16,175.1 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 93,640 more than last Thursday's values - up 578.9%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 7.61%, compared to 7.84% last Thursday. The state also reported 24 newly reported probable deaths (14 more than last Thursday - up 140.0%) for a total of 1,351 and 952 newly reported probable cases (108 more than last Thursday - up 12.8%) for a total of 168,039. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 73 new deaths for a total of 21,463 and 8,742 new cases for a total of 2,013,992. There were 606 COVID-19 patients in hospital (19 more than last Thursday - up 3.2%), 56 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (11 less than last Thursday - down 16.4%) and 21 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 less than last Thursday - down 27.6%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 862.0 (52 less than last Thursday - down 5.7%), 1,246% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 97.0% below the highest observed value of 23,205.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 7.61% (0 less than last Thursday - down 3.0%), 2,373% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 72% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 593.0 (10 more than last Thursday - up 1.7%), 605% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 85% 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 (1 more than last Thursday - up 14.3%), 700% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/10/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,698 non-ICU beds, of which 7,553 (86.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 550 (6.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 595 (6.8%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,188 ICU beds, of which 914 (76.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 56 (4.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 218 (18.4%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported last Thursday a total of 8,722 non-ICU beds, of which 7,623 (87.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 520 (6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 579 (6.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported last Thursday a total of 1,190 ICU beds, of which 890 (74.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 67 (5.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 233 (19.6%) remained available.
One week ago (August 25), the 7 day confirmed case average was 914.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 583.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.84%.
Two weeks ago (August 18), the 7 day confirmed case average was 923.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 8.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 569.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.84%.
One year ago (September 1, 2021), the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,110.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 6.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 587.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.57%.
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 3,767 total cases, with a two-week case count of 46 cases, a daily incidence rate of 13.7 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 107,656 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 620 and a two-week positive test count of 48, for a percent-positive rate of 7.74 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 1,845,953 total cases, with a two-week case count of 15,804 cases, a daily incidence rate of 16.1 which is lower than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 47,155,495 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 223,005 and a two-week positive test count of 17,573, for a percent-positive rate of 7.88 which is the same 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, 114 would be coded gray (compared to 114 last week), 33 would be coded green (compared to 37 last week), and 45 would be coded yellow (compared to 46 last week).The remaining 159 towns would be coded red (compared to 154 last week): Abington, Acton, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Andover, Ashland, Attleboro, Auburn, Barnstable, Bedford, Belchertown, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Boston, Bourne, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Danvers, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dennis, Dracut, Dudley, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Gloucester, Grafton, Greenfield, Groton, Hanover, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holden, Holliston, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Leicester, Leominster, Littleton, Longmeadow, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marlborough, Mashpee, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Methuen, Middleborough, Milford, Millbury, Milton, Nantucket, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newburyport, Newton, North Adams, North Andover, North Attleborough, Northbridge, Norwell, Norwood, Oxford, Palmer, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Sandwich, Saugus, Seekonk, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Somerville, South Hadley, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Stoneham, Stoughton, Sudbury, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Webster, West Springfield, Westfield, Westford, Weston, Westport, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, Wrentham, and Yarmouth.
15 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Belchertown, Littleton, Lunenburg, Maynard, Medfield, Millbury, Nantucket, Needham, Newburyport, North Attleborough, Norwell, Palmer, Southwick, Swansea, and Wayland) and 10 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Amesbury, Carver, Concord, Easton, Lexington, Rehoboth, Scituate, Westborough, Westwood, and Winchendon).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), one is coded gray (Carlisle), 2 are coded green (Boxborough, and Stow), one is coded yellow (Concord), and 6 are coded red (Acton, Chelmsford, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 3 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, and Harvard), 2 are coded green (Boxborough, and Stow), none are coded yellow, and 5 are coded red (Acton, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, and Sudbury).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of August 31, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 2894 counties (89.82% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 198 counties (6.15% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 71 counties (2.20% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 59 counties (1.83% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 9 counties have a Community Transmission Level of High (Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Nantucket, Suffolk, Worcester), and 5 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Dukes, Franklin, Hampshire, Norfolk, Plymouth).
Barnstable County has 122.540 cases per 100k, 9.13 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Berkshire County has 177.680 cases per 100k, 8.17 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Bristol County has 116.950 cases per 100k, 9.03 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Dukes County has 92.310 cases per 100k, 8.24 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Essex County has 132.060 cases per 100k, 8.77 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Franklin County has 84.070 cases per 100k, 7.97 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Hampden County has 192.760 cases per 100k, 10.56 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampshire County has 97.620 cases per 100k, 5.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Middlesex County has 105.420 cases per 100k, 7.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Nantucket County has 175.450 cases per 100k, 10.46 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Norfolk County has 91.540 cases per 100k, 6.73 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Plymouth County has 97.470 cases per 100k, 8.24 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Suffolk County has 107.850 cases per 100k, 6.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Worcester County has 105.460 cases per 100k, 8.43 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of September 1, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3223 counties nationwide: 830 counties (25.75%, representing 19.09% of the population) with High community level, 1355 counties (42.04%, representing 42.65% of the population) with Medium community level, and 1038 counties (32.21%, representing 38.27% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported the following COVID Community Levels for the 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503): 10 counties (representing 71.25% of the state's population) with Medium community level (Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Franklin, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester), and 4 counties (representing 28.75% of the state's population) with Low community level (Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire).
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 122.54 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 177.68 cases per 100k, 10.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 116.95 cases per 100k, 6.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 92.31 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Essex County (population 789034) has 132.06 cases per 100k, 9.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 84.07 cases per 100k, 10.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 192.76 cases per 100k, 6.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 97.62 cases per 100k, 6.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 105.42 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 175.45 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 91.54 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 97.47 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 107.85 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 105.46 cases per 100k, 10.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
Compared to a week ago, case counts continue to drop slowly but deaths are up and hospitalizations keep climbing. Presumably, that uptick in hospitalizations is what's driving the latest COVID Community Level report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which moved ten of the state's fourteen counties (with over seventy percent of the population) from Low last week to Medium this week.
And, of course, things are likely to get worse this autumn and winter, although hopefully not quite as bad as last year:
Boy, I hope those experts are correct. One thing's for sure, though: if a nasty new variant shows up, all bets are off.
Locally, the town of Acton's main COVID page has been significantly changed since the last time I looked at it (last week):
Well, at least someone at Town Hall is - occasionally - updating things.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 16 active and 3,892 cumulative cases as of August 28, and has not been updated since. 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 case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,112.9 newly reported cases per day (6,839 less than last Thursday - down 86.0%), and 15,687.9 newly reported molecular tests per day (97,538 less than last Thursday - down 86.1%).
Note that last Thursday's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 5.4 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 44 more than last Thursday's values - up 802.6%.
Note that last Thursday's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 1,136.0 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 6,654 more than last Thursday's values - up 585.7%. There were 16,175.1 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 93,640 more than last Thursday's values - up 578.9%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 7.61%, compared to 7.84% last Thursday. The state also reported 24 newly reported probable deaths (14 more than last Thursday - up 140.0%) for a total of 1,351 and 952 newly reported probable cases (108 more than last Thursday - up 12.8%) for a total of 168,039. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 73 new deaths for a total of 21,463 and 8,742 new cases for a total of 2,013,992. There were 606 COVID-19 patients in hospital (19 more than last Thursday - up 3.2%), 56 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (11 less than last Thursday - down 16.4%) and 21 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (8 less than last Thursday - down 27.6%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 862.0 (52 less than last Thursday - down 5.7%), 1,246% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 97.0% below the highest observed value of 23,205.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 7.61% (0 less than last Thursday - down 3.0%), 2,373% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 72% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 593.0 (10 more than last Thursday - up 1.7%), 605% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 85% 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 (1 more than last Thursday - up 14.3%), 700% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/10/2021 and 96% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,698 non-ICU beds, of which 7,553 (86.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 550 (6.3%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 595 (6.8%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,188 ICU beds, of which 914 (76.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 56 (4.7%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 218 (18.4%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported last Thursday a total of 8,722 non-ICU beds, of which 7,623 (87.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 520 (6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 579 (6.6%) remained available. Hospitals also reported last Thursday a total of 1,190 ICU beds, of which 890 (74.8%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 67 (5.6%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 233 (19.6%) remained available.
One week ago (August 25), the 7 day confirmed case average was 914.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 583.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.84%.
Two weeks ago (August 18), the 7 day confirmed case average was 923.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 8.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 569.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 7.84%.
One year ago (September 1, 2021), the 7 day confirmed case average was 1,110.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 6.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 587.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 2.57%.
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 3,767 total cases, with a two-week case count of 46 cases, a daily incidence rate of 13.7 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 107,656 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 620 and a two-week positive test count of 48, for a percent-positive rate of 7.74 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 1,845,953 total cases, with a two-week case count of 15,804 cases, a daily incidence rate of 16.1 which is lower than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 47,155,495 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 223,005 and a two-week positive test count of 17,573, for a percent-positive rate of 7.88 which is the same 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, 114 would be coded gray (compared to 114 last week), 33 would be coded green (compared to 37 last week), and 45 would be coded yellow (compared to 46 last week).The remaining 159 towns would be coded red (compared to 154 last week): Abington, Acton, Acushnet, Adams, Agawam, Andover, Ashland, Attleboro, Auburn, Barnstable, Bedford, Belchertown, Bellingham, Beverly, Billerica, Boston, Bourne, Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Danvers, Dartmouth, Dedham, Dennis, Dracut, Dudley, Duxbury, East Bridgewater, East Longmeadow, Easthampton, Everett, Fairhaven, Fall River, Falmouth, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Franklin, Gardner, Gloucester, Grafton, Greenfield, Groton, Hanover, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holden, Holliston, Holyoke, Hopkinton, Hudson, Hull, Kingston, Lakeville, Lawrence, Leicester, Leominster, Littleton, Longmeadow, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Mansfield, Marblehead, Marlborough, Mashpee, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Melrose, Methuen, Middleborough, Milford, Millbury, Milton, Nantucket, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newburyport, Newton, North Adams, North Andover, North Attleborough, Northbridge, Norwell, Norwood, Oxford, Palmer, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Pittsfield, Plymouth, Quincy, Randolph, Raynham, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Salem, Sandwich, Saugus, Seekonk, Sharon, Shrewsbury, Somerville, South Hadley, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Stoneham, Stoughton, Sudbury, Swampscott, Swansea, Taunton, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Uxbridge, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Ware, Wareham, Watertown, Wayland, Webster, West Springfield, Westfield, Westford, Weston, Westport, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilbraham, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn, Worcester, Wrentham, and Yarmouth.
15 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Belchertown, Littleton, Lunenburg, Maynard, Medfield, Millbury, Nantucket, Needham, Newburyport, North Attleborough, Norwell, Palmer, Southwick, Swansea, and Wayland) and 10 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Amesbury, Carver, Concord, Easton, Lexington, Rehoboth, Scituate, Westborough, Westwood, and Winchendon).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), one is coded gray (Carlisle), 2 are coded green (Boxborough, and Stow), one is coded yellow (Concord), and 6 are coded red (Acton, Chelmsford, Littleton, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford).
Of the 10 towns near my church, 3 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, and Harvard), 2 are coded green (Boxborough, and Stow), none are coded yellow, and 5 are coded red (Acton, Hudson, Marlborough, Maynard, and Sudbury).
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of August 31, 2022, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 2894 counties (89.82% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 198 counties (6.15% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 71 counties (2.20% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 59 counties (1.83% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 9 counties have a Community Transmission Level of High (Barnstable, Berkshire, Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Middlesex, Nantucket, Suffolk, Worcester), and 5 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Dukes, Franklin, Hampshire, Norfolk, Plymouth).
Barnstable County has 122.540 cases per 100k, 9.13 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Berkshire County has 177.680 cases per 100k, 8.17 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Bristol County has 116.950 cases per 100k, 9.03 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Dukes County has 92.310 cases per 100k, 8.24 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Essex County has 132.060 cases per 100k, 8.77 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Franklin County has 84.070 cases per 100k, 7.97 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Hampden County has 192.760 cases per 100k, 10.56 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Hampshire County has 97.620 cases per 100k, 5.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Middlesex County has 105.420 cases per 100k, 7.49 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Nantucket County has 175.450 cases per 100k, 10.46 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Norfolk County has 91.540 cases per 100k, 6.73 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Plymouth County has 97.470 cases per 100k, 8.24 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Suffolk County has 107.850 cases per 100k, 6.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
Worcester County has 105.460 cases per 100k, 8.43 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of high
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of September 1, 2022, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3223 counties nationwide: 830 counties (25.75%, representing 19.09% of the population) with High community level, 1355 counties (42.04%, representing 42.65% of the population) with Medium community level, and 1038 counties (32.21%, representing 38.27% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported the following COVID Community Levels for the 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503): 10 counties (representing 71.25% of the state's population) with Medium community level (Barnstable, Berkshire, Dukes, Franklin, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester), and 4 counties (representing 28.75% of the state's population) with Low community level (Bristol, Essex, Hampden, Hampshire).
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 122.54 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 177.68 cases per 100k, 10.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 116.95 cases per 100k, 6.8 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 92.31 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Essex County (population 789034) has 132.06 cases per 100k, 9.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 84.07 cases per 100k, 10.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 192.76 cases per 100k, 6.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 97.62 cases per 100k, 6.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 5.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 105.42 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 175.45 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 91.54 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 97.47 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Medium.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 107.85 cases per 100k, 10.7 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 105.46 cases per 100k, 10.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of High and a community level of Medium.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
Compared to a week ago, case counts continue to drop slowly but deaths are up and hospitalizations keep climbing. Presumably, that uptick in hospitalizations is what's driving the latest COVID Community Level report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which moved ten of the state's fourteen counties (with over seventy percent of the population) from Low last week to Medium this week.
And, of course, things are likely to get worse this autumn and winter, although hopefully not quite as bad as last year:
COVID-19 will make a comeback this fall and winter, but it's not expected to hit as hard as the devastating surges during the colder months of the last two years, experts said.
In 2020 and 2021, the deadly virus waned during the summer before roaring back in the fall and winter, with national case counts peaking in the early days of the new year.
Barring a new game-changing variant, a wave of new illnesses could be blunted by people's immunity from previous infections and vaccinations. Booster shots updated to protect against the Omicron subvariant, will also provide key protection, experts said.
An influential advisory panel of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention was discussing the new shots Thursday, after they were approved Wednesday by the US Food and Drug Administration. They could be available within days.
"I expect we will go through another surge in the fall, beginning in the next few weeks as we all come back from vacations and schools open," said Matthew Fox, a professor of epidemiology and global health at the Boston University School of Public Health.
If no new variant arises, "I think we will be able to get through the next wave without it being too bad compared to previous waves in terms of mortality and hospitalizations," he said.
[ ... ]
Justin Lessler, a professor of epidemiology at the Gillings School of Global Public Health at the University of North Carolina Chapel Hill, said factors that could affect the pandemic's trajectory in the coming months include the possible rise of a new variant; how well the updated boosters work; whether people actually get the new shots; and whether people will take precautions such as wearing masks and avoiding indoor dining and crowded gatherings.
"There's a lot of uncertainty, but without a new variant, we're almost definitely not going to see anything like Omicron-level surges in the fall," he said.
Andrew Lover, an assistant professor of epidemiology in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, sounded a more pessimistic note, emphasizing the threat posed by a new variant.
"I think as much as we all wish the pandemic was behind us, there's a good chance that's not the case. I think we could definitely be looking at some headwinds in the next four to five months," he said. "I think it's important for everyone to realize we're still in a mess."
With COVID-19 continuing to circulate across the world, there are myriad opportunities for the virus to mutate and become more dangerous, he said.
"The big challenge I see is that globally there is massive viral circulation almost everywhere. That is just rolling the dice to find fitter and fitter viruses," he said. "New variants are definitely going to throw a spanner in the works. It's unrealistic to expect we won't see new variants."
The good news there is no variant on the radar that is raising alarms. The Omicron subvariant BA.2.75 is being monitored, but Lessler said "it seems to be a minor step."
Boy, I hope those experts are correct. One thing's for sure, though: if a nasty new variant shows up, all bets are off.
Locally, the town of Acton's main COVID page has been significantly changed since the last time I looked at it (last week):
COVID Updates - August 2022
On August 11, 2022, the CDC updated and streamlined guidance regarding COVID-19. The CDC acknowledges that COVID-19 continues to circulate globally, yet we have many tools available to us for reducing COVID-19 severity (the goal).
With the availability of vaccines, boosters, and treatment, there is significantly less risk of severe illness, hospitalization and death compared to earlier in the pandemic. This guidance is further acknowledgement that, while COVID-19 is still with us, for a majority of people, COVID-19 no longer severely disrupts their daily lives.
To prevent medically significant COVID-19 illness and death, persons must understand their risk, take steps to protect themselves and others with vaccines, therapeutics, and nonpharmaceutical interventions when needed, receive testing and wear masks when exposed, receive testing if symptomatic, and isolate for ≥5 days if infected.
Well, at least someone at Town Hall is - occasionally - updating things.
The town of Acton's current Google Data Studio dashboard is showing 16 active and 3,892 cumulative cases as of August 28, and has not been updated since. 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.