Local COVID-19 updates
Mar. 23rd, 2023 06:37 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
edschweppeAs of 5PM today (Thursday March 23, 2023), the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is reporting 38 newly reported confirmed deaths (11 less than last Thursday - down 22.4%) for a total of 22,452 deaths, 2,076 newly reported confirmed cases (536 less than last Thursday - down 20.5%) for a total of 2,029,091 cases, and 54,393 newly reported molecular tests (2,658 less than last Thursday - down 4.7%). Note that today's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 5.4 newly reported deaths per day (44 less than last Thursday - down 88.9%).
Note that today's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 296.6 newly reported cases per day (2,315 less than last Thursday - down 88.6%), and 7,770.4 newly reported molecular tests per day (49,281 less than last Thursday - down 86.4%).
Note that last Thursday's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 7.0 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 31 more than last Thursday's values - up 442.9%.
Note that last Thursday's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 373.1 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 1,703 more than last Thursday's values - up 456.4%. There were 8,150.1 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 46,243 more than last Thursday's values - up 567.4%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 4.02%, compared to 4.49% last Thursday. The state also reported 12 newly reported probable deaths (3 more than last Thursday - up 33.3%) for a total of 1,989 and 464 newly reported probable cases (197 less than last Thursday - down 29.8%) for a total of 201,059. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 50 new deaths for a total of 24,441 and 2,540 new cases for a total of 2,230,150. There were 368 COVID-19 patients in hospital (55 less than last Thursday - down 13.0%), 42 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (5 less than last Thursday - down 10.6%) and 11 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (4 less than last Thursday - down 26.7%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 234.0 (28 less than last Thursday - down 10.7%), 265% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 99.0% below the highest observed value of 23,233.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 4.02% (0 less than last Thursday - down 10.5%), 1,205% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 85% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 387.0 (37 less than last Thursday - down 8.7%), 360% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 91% 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 (2 less than last Thursday - down 33.3%), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,691 non-ICU beds, of which 7,856 (90.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 326 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 509 (5.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,213 ICU beds, of which 948 (78.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 42 (3.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 223 (18.4%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported last Thursday a total of 8,565 non-ICU beds, of which 7,646 (89.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 376 (4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 543 (6.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported last Thursday a total of 1,209 ICU beds, of which 930 (76.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 47 (3.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 232 (19.2%) remained available.
One week ago (March 16), the 7 day confirmed case average was 262.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 6.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 424.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 4.49%.
Two weeks ago (March 9), the 7 day confirmed case average was 288.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 481.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 4.85%.
One year ago (March 23, 2022), the 7 day confirmed case average was 581.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 4.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 224.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.91%.
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 4,239 total cases, with a two-week case count of 12 cases, a daily incidence rate of 3.6 which is higher than last week, with a corresponding risk color code of green (if the state was still reporting color codes). Acton is also listed as having 114,739 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 306 and a two-week positive test count of 15, for a percent-positive rate of 4.90 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 2,029,091 total cases, with a two-week case count of 4,304 cases, a daily incidence rate of 4.4 which is lower than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 49,754,469 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 111,354 and a two-week positive test count of 4,983, for a percent-positive rate of 4.47 which is lower 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, 230 would be coded gray (compared to 220 last week), 49 would be coded green (compared to 51 last week), and 70 would be coded yellow (compared to 76 last week).The remaining 2 towns would be coded red (compared to 4 last week): Northampton, and Northborough.
2 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Northampton, and Northborough) and 4 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Lunenburg, North Adams, Palmer, and Pittsfield).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), 5 are coded gray (Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Littleton, and Stow), one is coded green (Acton), 4 are coded yellow (Chelmsford, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford), and none are coded red.
Of the 10 towns near my church, 6 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, and Stow), 2 are coded green (Acton, and Marlborough), 2 are coded yellow (Maynard, and Sudbury), and none are coded red.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the CDC reported a total of 2060 new deaths and 133521 new cases from 60 states and territories nationwide.
For Massachusetts, the CDC reported 50 new deaths and 2540 new cases.
The underlying query is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the CDC reported a total of 1753 new deaths and 153183 new cases from 60 states and territories nationwide.
For Massachusetts, the CDC reported 59 new deaths and 3273 new cases.
The underlying query is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 954 counties (29.61% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 751 counties (23.31% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 1065 counties (33.05% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 452 counties (14.03% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 2 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Berkshire, Dukes), and 12 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate (Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester).
Barnstable County has 45.54 cases per 100k, 5.12 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Berkshire County has 58.43 cases per 100k, 4.19 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Bristol County has 23.88 cases per 100k, 4.94 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Dukes County has 75.01 cases per 100k, 8.86 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Essex County has 32.06 cases per 100k, 3.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Franklin County has 24.22 cases per 100k, 3.32 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampden County has 31.52 cases per 100k, 3.15 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampshire County has 27.36 cases per 100k, 4.29 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Middlesex County has 31.09 cases per 100k, 4.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Nantucket County has 17.55 cases per 100k, 1.98 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Norfolk County has 24.9 cases per 100k, 3.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Plymouth County has 22.06 cases per 100k, 3.6 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Suffolk County has 28.61 cases per 100k, 3.83 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Worcester County has 33.59 cases per 100k, 4.82 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
The underlying query for this data is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 1129 counties (35.04% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 726 counties (22.53% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 986 counties (30.60% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 381 counties (11.82% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 2 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Barnstable, Berkshire), and 12 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate (Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester).
Barnstable County has 63.38 cases per 100k, 6.51 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Berkshire County has 64.83 cases per 100k, 4.89 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Bristol County has 29.72 cases per 100k, 6.35 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Dukes County has 40.39 cases per 100k, 3.29 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Essex County has 38.91 cases per 100k, 3.87 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Franklin County has 27.07 cases per 100k, 3.82 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampden County has 47.6 cases per 100k, 4.34 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampshire County has 49.74 cases per 100k, 4.16 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Middlesex County has 36.42 cases per 100k, 4.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Nantucket County has 26.32 cases per 100k, 1.54 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Norfolk County has 32.26 cases per 100k, 4.31 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Plymouth County has 36.26 cases per 100k, 5.4 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Suffolk County has 32.09 cases per 100k, 4.23 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Worcester County has 39.37 cases per 100k, 4.96 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3222 counties nationwide: 27 counties (0.84%, representing 0.06% of the population) with High community level, 196 counties (6.08%, representing 3.99% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2999 counties (93.08%, representing 95.95% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503) have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 45.54 cases per 100k (implying 97.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 58.43 cases per 100k (implying 73.00 cases in the county), 3.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 23.88 cases per 100k (implying 134.97 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 75.01 cases per 100k (implying 13.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Essex County (population 789034) has 32.06 cases per 100k (implying 252.96 cases in the county), 5.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 1.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 24.22 cases per 100k (implying 17.00 cases in the county), 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 31.52 cases per 100k (implying 147.00 cases in the county), 3.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.5 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 27.36 cases per 100k (implying 44.00 cases in the county), 3.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.5 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 31.09 cases per 100k (implying 501.08 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 17.55 cases per 100k (implying 2.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 24.9 cases per 100k (implying 175.99 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 22.06 cases per 100k (implying 114.98 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 28.61 cases per 100k (implying 230.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 33.59 cases per 100k (implying 279.01 cases in the county), 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
The CDC community level data implies a total of 2,081.99 cases statewide.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3220 counties nationwide: 27 counties (0.84%, representing 0.15% of the population) with High community level, 295 counties (9.16%, representing 6.27% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2898 counties (90.00%, representing 93.58% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503) have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 63.38 cases per 100k (implying 134.99 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 64.83 cases per 100k (implying 81.00 cases in the county), 5.6 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 29.72 cases per 100k (implying 167.98 cases in the county), 5.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 40.39 cases per 100k (implying 7.00 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Essex County (population 789034) has 38.91 cases per 100k (implying 307.01 cases in the county), 3.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 1.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 27.07 cases per 100k (implying 19.00 cases in the county), 7.0 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 47.6 cases per 100k (implying 221.99 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 49.74 cases per 100k (implying 80.00 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 36.42 cases per 100k (implying 586.98 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 26.32 cases per 100k (implying 3.00 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 32.26 cases per 100k (implying 228.01 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 36.26 cases per 100k (implying 188.99 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 32.09 cases per 100k (implying 257.97 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 39.37 cases per 100k (implying 327.02 cases in the county), 7.0 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
The CDC community level data implies a total of 2,610.94 cases statewide.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
(The town of Acton has stopped updating its COVID-19 Information Center and Google Data Studio dashboard.)
Statewide, newly reported confirmed deaths and cases are both down from last week, as is the current hospitalization count and all four of the seven-day averages. The national numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also are trending in good directions. The CDC is reporting Community Levels of Low in all counties, and Community Transmission Levels of Moderate in twelve of the fourteen counties in Massachusetts.
Over, splendid news - with a a couple of exceptions. The first problem is that statewide test counts continue to drop as well. The state continues to set new records for the fewest new molecular tests; the seven-day average of tests by test date (6,779.57) hasn't been that low since April 9, 2020, back at the beginning of the pandemic. The state wasn't actually reporting that number back then, but based on the historical data in today's raw data download, the seven-day average of tests was 6,613.29. Back then, the problem was getting any tests at all; today, the issue is that so few people are getting official, lab-based tests.
The second thing I'm concerned about is the level of COVID in the wastewater. That level had been dropping fairly consistently for a few weeks, even though it was still substantially higher that either the 2021 or 2022 lows. However, the current MWRA data shows a bit of an upward trend, with the seven-day averages for both the north and south sides of the MWRA system back above 400 copies/mL for the first time in a few weeks. There's a lot of noise in that data, so I'm hesitant to leap to any conclusions. But any upward trend is not good.
(Note to self: I really need to get some automatic way of reading that wastewater data.)
In other discouraging but not terribly surprising news, the White House is going to disband their COVID-19 response team in May, once the public health emergencies expire:
I wish I could say I was surprised. On the other hand, if the Biden Administration is giving up on extraordinary measures to protect folks from COVID, it sort of makes sense that they'd also give up on having the COVID-specific response office. (The Globe story does note that a new White House "pandemic response office" will be set up later this year.)
For now, though, the message seems clear: if you're still concerned about getting COVID, you're on your own.
Note that today's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 296.6 newly reported cases per day (2,315 less than last Thursday - down 88.6%), and 7,770.4 newly reported molecular tests per day (49,281 less than last Thursday - down 86.4%).
Note that last Thursday's death data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 7.0 newly reported deaths per day and today's newly reported deaths are 31 more than last Thursday's values - up 442.9%.
Note that last Thursday's case/test data covers 7 days. Averaged over that period, there were 373.1 newly reported cases per day and today's newly reported cases are 1,703 more than last Thursday's values - up 456.4%. There were 8,150.1 newly reported molecular tests per day and today's newly reported tests are 46,243 more than last Thursday's values - up 567.4%.
The seven day average positivity rate is 4.02%, compared to 4.49% last Thursday. The state also reported 12 newly reported probable deaths (3 more than last Thursday - up 33.3%) for a total of 1,989 and 464 newly reported probable cases (197 less than last Thursday - down 29.8%) for a total of 201,059. Combining the confirmed and probable numbers gives 50 new deaths for a total of 24,441 and 2,540 new cases for a total of 2,230,150. There were 368 COVID-19 patients in hospital (55 less than last Thursday - down 13.0%), 42 COVID-19 patients in ICUs (5 less than last Thursday - down 10.6%) and 11 COVID-19 patients on ventilators (intubated) (4 less than last Thursday - down 26.7%).
Of the four overview trends (formerly the Page 2 "key metrics"), the 7-day average of newly confirmed cases is 234.0 (28 less than last Thursday - down 10.7%), 265% above the lowest observed value of 64.0 on 6/25/2021 and 99.0% below the highest observed value of 23,233.0 on 1/8/2022. The 7-day weighted average of positive molecular test rate is 4.02% (0 less than last Thursday - down 10.5%), 1,205% above the lowest observed value of 0.3% on 6/25/2021 and 85% below the highest observed value of 27.7% on 4/15/2020. The 7-day average number of COVID-19 patients in hospital is 387.0 (37 less than last Thursday - down 8.7%), 360% above the lowest observed value of 84.0 on 7/8/2021 and 91% 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 (2 less than last Thursday - down 33.3%), 300% above the lowest observed value of 1.0 on 7/11/2021 and 98% below the highest observed value of 176.0 on 4/24/2020.
Statewide, hospitals reported 8,691 non-ICU beds, of which 7,856 (90.4%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 326 (3.8%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 509 (5.9%) remained available. Hospitals also reported 1,213 ICU beds, of which 948 (78.2%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 42 (3.5%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 223 (18.4%) remained available. By comparison, hospitals reported last Thursday a total of 8,565 non-ICU beds, of which 7,646 (89.3%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 376 (4%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 543 (6.3%) remained available. Hospitals also reported last Thursday a total of 1,209 ICU beds, of which 930 (76.9%) were occupied by non-COVID patients, 47 (3.9%) were occupied by COVID patients, and 232 (19.2%) remained available.
One week ago (March 16), the 7 day confirmed case average was 262.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 6.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 424.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 4.49%.
Two weeks ago (March 9), the 7 day confirmed case average was 288.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 7.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 481.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 4.85%.
One year ago (March 23, 2022), the 7 day confirmed case average was 581.0, the 7 day confirmed deaths average was 4.0, the 7 day hospitalization average was 224.0, and the 7 day weighted average positivity rate was 1.91%.
Today being Thursday, the state also included city/town specific information in the daily download. My town of Acton is listed as having 4,239 total cases, with a two-week case count of 12 cases, a daily incidence rate of 3.6 which is higher than last week, with a corresponding risk color code of green (if the state was still reporting color codes). Acton is also listed as having 114,739 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 306 and a two-week positive test count of 15, for a percent-positive rate of 4.90 which is higher than last week. The corresponding statewide figures are 2,029,091 total cases, with a two-week case count of 4,304 cases, a daily incidence rate of 4.4 which is lower than last week. Massachusetts is also listed as having 49,754,469 total tests, with a two-week total test count of 111,354 and a two-week positive test count of 4,983, for a percent-positive rate of 4.47 which is lower 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, 230 would be coded gray (compared to 220 last week), 49 would be coded green (compared to 51 last week), and 70 would be coded yellow (compared to 76 last week).The remaining 2 towns would be coded red (compared to 4 last week): Northampton, and Northborough.
2 cities/towns would be newly coded red this week (Northampton, and Northborough) and 4 cities/towns would no longer be coded red this week (Lunenburg, North Adams, Palmer, and Pittsfield).
Of the 10 towns nearby (including my own town), 5 are coded gray (Boxborough, Carlisle, Concord, Littleton, and Stow), one is coded green (Acton), 4 are coded yellow (Chelmsford, Maynard, Sudbury, and Westford), and none are coded red.
Of the 10 towns near my church, 6 are coded gray (Berlin, Bolton, Boxborough, Harvard, Hudson, and Stow), 2 are coded green (Acton, and Marlborough), 2 are coded yellow (Maynard, and Sudbury), and none are coded red.
The daily raw data file used to create this report is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the CDC reported a total of 2060 new deaths and 133521 new cases from 60 states and territories nationwide.
For Massachusetts, the CDC reported 50 new deaths and 2540 new cases.
The underlying query is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the CDC reported a total of 1753 new deaths and 153183 new cases from 60 states and territories nationwide.
For Massachusetts, the CDC reported 59 new deaths and 3273 new cases.
The underlying query is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 954 counties (29.61% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 751 counties (23.31% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 1065 counties (33.05% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 452 counties (14.03% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 2 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Berkshire, Dukes), and 12 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate (Barnstable, Bristol, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester).
Barnstable County has 45.54 cases per 100k, 5.12 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Berkshire County has 58.43 cases per 100k, 4.19 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Bristol County has 23.88 cases per 100k, 4.94 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Dukes County has 75.01 cases per 100k, 8.86 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Essex County has 32.06 cases per 100k, 3.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Franklin County has 24.22 cases per 100k, 3.32 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampden County has 31.52 cases per 100k, 3.15 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampshire County has 27.36 cases per 100k, 4.29 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Middlesex County has 31.09 cases per 100k, 4.5 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Nantucket County has 17.55 cases per 100k, 1.98 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Norfolk County has 24.9 cases per 100k, 3.75 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Plymouth County has 22.06 cases per 100k, 3.6 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Suffolk County has 28.61 cases per 100k, 3.83 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Worcester County has 33.59 cases per 100k, 4.82 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
The underlying query for this data is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that, of 3222 counties nationwide, 1129 counties (35.04% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of High, 726 counties (22.53% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial, 986 counties (30.60% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate, and 381 counties (11.82% of total) have a Community Transmission Level of Low. The CDC also reported that, of the 14 counties in Massachusetts, 2 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Substantial (Barnstable, Berkshire), and 12 counties have a Community Transmission Level of Moderate (Bristol, Dukes, Essex, Franklin, Hampden, Hampshire, Middlesex, Nantucket, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk, Worcester).
Barnstable County has 63.38 cases per 100k, 6.51 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Berkshire County has 64.83 cases per 100k, 4.89 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of substantial
Bristol County has 29.72 cases per 100k, 6.35 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Dukes County has 40.39 cases per 100k, 3.29 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Essex County has 38.91 cases per 100k, 3.87 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Franklin County has 27.07 cases per 100k, 3.82 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampden County has 47.6 cases per 100k, 4.34 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Hampshire County has 49.74 cases per 100k, 4.16 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Middlesex County has 36.42 cases per 100k, 4.71 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Nantucket County has 26.32 cases per 100k, 1.54 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Norfolk County has 32.26 cases per 100k, 4.31 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Plymouth County has 36.26 cases per 100k, 5.4 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Suffolk County has 32.09 cases per 100k, 4.23 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
Worcester County has 39.37 cases per 100k, 4.96 percent positive, and a Community Transmission level of moderate
The underlying query for this data is available here.
As of March 23, 2023, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3222 counties nationwide: 27 counties (0.84%, representing 0.06% of the population) with High community level, 196 counties (6.08%, representing 3.99% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2999 counties (93.08%, representing 95.95% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503) have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 45.54 cases per 100k (implying 97.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 58.43 cases per 100k (implying 73.00 cases in the county), 3.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 23.88 cases per 100k (implying 134.97 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 75.01 cases per 100k (implying 13.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Essex County (population 789034) has 32.06 cases per 100k (implying 252.96 cases in the county), 5.1 hospitalizations per 100k and 1.9 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 24.22 cases per 100k (implying 17.00 cases in the county), 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 31.52 cases per 100k (implying 147.00 cases in the county), 3.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.5 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 27.36 cases per 100k (implying 44.00 cases in the county), 3.2 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.5 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 31.09 cases per 100k (implying 501.08 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 17.55 cases per 100k (implying 2.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 24.9 cases per 100k (implying 175.99 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 22.06 cases per 100k (implying 114.98 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 28.61 cases per 100k (implying 230.00 cases in the county), 7.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.2 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 33.59 cases per 100k (implying 279.01 cases in the county), 7.3 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
The CDC community level data implies a total of 2,081.99 cases statewide.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
This compares to the previous week:
As of March 16, 2023, the CDC reported COVID Community Levels for 3220 counties nationwide: 27 counties (0.84%, representing 0.15% of the population) with High community level, 295 counties (9.16%, representing 6.27% of the population) with Medium community level, and 2898 counties (90.00%, representing 93.58% of the population) with Low community level. The CDC also reported that all 14 counties in Massachusetts (population 6892503) have a COVID Community Level of Low.
Barnstable County (population 212990) has 63.38 cases per 100k (implying 134.99 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Berkshire County (population 124944) has 64.83 cases per 100k (implying 81.00 cases in the county), 5.6 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.1 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Substantial and a community level of Low.
Bristol County (population 565217) has 29.72 cases per 100k (implying 167.98 cases in the county), 5.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.4 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Dukes County (population 17332) has 40.39 cases per 100k (implying 7.00 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Essex County (population 789034) has 38.91 cases per 100k (implying 307.01 cases in the county), 3.5 hospitalizations per 100k and 1.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Franklin County (population 70180) has 27.07 cases per 100k (implying 19.00 cases in the county), 7.0 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampden County (population 466372) has 47.6 cases per 100k (implying 221.99 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Hampshire County (population 160830) has 49.74 cases per 100k (implying 80.00 cases in the county), 4.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 4.6 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Middlesex County (population 1611699) has 36.42 cases per 100k (implying 586.98 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Nantucket County (population 11399) has 26.32 cases per 100k (implying 3.00 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Norfolk County (population 706775) has 32.26 cases per 100k (implying 228.01 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Plymouth County (population 521202) has 36.26 cases per 100k (implying 188.99 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Suffolk County (population 803907) has 32.09 cases per 100k (implying 257.97 cases in the county), 6.9 hospitalizations per 100k and 2.3 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
Worcester County (population 830622) has 39.37 cases per 100k (implying 327.02 cases in the county), 7.0 hospitalizations per 100k and 3.0 COVID bed utilization, for a community transmission level of Moderate and a community level of Low.
The CDC community level data implies a total of 2,610.94 cases statewide.
The underlying query for this data is available here.
(The town of Acton has stopped updating its COVID-19 Information Center and Google Data Studio dashboard.)
Statewide, newly reported confirmed deaths and cases are both down from last week, as is the current hospitalization count and all four of the seven-day averages. The national numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also are trending in good directions. The CDC is reporting Community Levels of Low in all counties, and Community Transmission Levels of Moderate in twelve of the fourteen counties in Massachusetts.
Over, splendid news - with a a couple of exceptions. The first problem is that statewide test counts continue to drop as well. The state continues to set new records for the fewest new molecular tests; the seven-day average of tests by test date (6,779.57) hasn't been that low since April 9, 2020, back at the beginning of the pandemic. The state wasn't actually reporting that number back then, but based on the historical data in today's raw data download, the seven-day average of tests was 6,613.29. Back then, the problem was getting any tests at all; today, the issue is that so few people are getting official, lab-based tests.
The second thing I'm concerned about is the level of COVID in the wastewater. That level had been dropping fairly consistently for a few weeks, even though it was still substantially higher that either the 2021 or 2022 lows. However, the current MWRA data shows a bit of an upward trend, with the seven-day averages for both the north and south sides of the MWRA system back above 400 copies/mL for the first time in a few weeks. There's a lot of noise in that data, so I'm hesitant to leap to any conclusions. But any upward trend is not good.
(Note to self: I really need to get some automatic way of reading that wastewater data.)
In other discouraging but not terribly surprising news, the White House is going to disband their COVID-19 response team in May, once the public health emergencies expire:
The White House will shut down its COVID-19 response team after the public health emergency ends in May, with some staffers already departing and national coordinator Ashish Jha likely to leave the administration once his team is disbanded, according to multiple current and former officials who spoke on the condition of anonymity to describe internal operations.
The move to disband the White House COVID-19 team, created in February 2020 and expanded to about three dozen staffers under President Biden, comes as the pandemic has receded from U.S. hospitals and in voters' minds. The nation avoided a feared winter surge of virus deaths earlier this year, and while the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention still links about 2,000 deaths per week to COVID-19, that represents the lowest death toll since the earliest days of the pandemic.
At the same time, Republicans on the campaign trail are ramping up attacks on coronavirus vaccines and shutdowns, capitalizing on many voters' frustration with policies intended to curb the pandemic. And on Capitol Hill, House Republicans, now in the majority, are charging ahead with investigations into the origins of the pandemic.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The White House COVID-19 team has been shrinking for some time, but its formal end marks a milestone in the trajectory of the pandemic. The coronavirus outbreak engulfed the end of Donald Trump's presidency and the beginning of Biden's, became a central focus of the U.S. government for three years, and erupted into one of the biggest public health crises in the nation's history.
Some experts said there are practical reasons to wind down the response, noting the virus's decreasing burden on the U.S. health system.
"If not now, then when?" said Bob Wachter, chair of the department of medicine at the University of California at San Francisco who said he has served as an informal adviser to Jha. "I'm increasingly persuaded by the arguments that this has to fold into the way we manage other diseases."
[ ... ]
But Deborah Birx, who served as the nation's first coronavirus coordinator, suggested that too few anti-pandemic mechanisms have been put in place to justify winding down the team. She said the administration has missed opportunities to improve the monitoring of virus data, invest in the development of more durable vaccines and take other steps that Biden vowed to accomplish in his sweeping COVID-19 plan.
"It's not too early [to disband] if we had used the last two years to build all of these systems that we needed - but we haven't," Birx said.
She also lamented the public's reduced attention to COVID-19′s risks, noting that the virus's evolution has allowed it to evade some treatments and left immunocompromised Americans with fewer protections. "No one is even talking about that vulnerable Americans are more vulnerable today than they were a year ago," Birx said.
[ ... ]
Several COVID-19 response officials have departed in recent weeks without the White House filling their slots, including Mary Wall, who served as the team's chief of staff, and Subhan Cheema, who helped lead COVID-19 communications before moving to the White House's science and technology office.
The team's diminished presence has manifested in diminished proximity to the president: Jha's office was moved out of the West Wing this year to the neighboring Eisenhower Executive Office Building, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Other top health officials have left as well. Anthony S. Fauci, chief medical adviser to the president and the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, retired in December; David Kessler, a top adviser on the pandemic and vaccine distribution, left in January; and the top job at the National Institutes of Health remains unfilled after Francis Collins stepped down in December 2021.
[ ... ]
Wachter also said that after COVID's speed and mutations repeatedly challenged health systems in the first two years of the pandemic, there had been fewer surprises since the emergence of the omicron variant around Thanksgiving in 2021.
Current and former officials said the idea all along was that the team would be wound down eventually. "We took these jobs with a goal of becoming obsolete," a former official said.
I wish I could say I was surprised. On the other hand, if the Biden Administration is giving up on extraordinary measures to protect folks from COVID, it sort of makes sense that they'd also give up on having the COVID-specific response office. (The Globe story does note that a new White House "pandemic response office" will be set up later this year.)
For now, though, the message seems clear: if you're still concerned about getting COVID, you're on your own.