Massachusetts COVID-19 cases, positive test rate continue increase, 20 communities in the red

Massachusetts saw an increase in cases, active cases, and positive test rate in Thursday’s COVID-19 report.

Massachusetts saw 1,857 more positive cases announced today. An increase from Wednesday’s report. The 7 day weighted average positive test rate saw another slight increase to 1.93%. The highest since February 21st. A week ago Sunday’s 1.66% was the lowest it has been since October 22nd.

Massachusetts had seen 1,640 more positive cases announced yesterday.

The Massachusetts Department of Health statistics show a rise in total confirmed cases to 574,135 with 27 more reported dead (27 confirmed, 0 probable) for a total of 16,759 (16,426 confirmed, 333 probable).

The overall amount of tests administered in Massachusetts is now 17,714,455 after 106,850 new molecular tests.

The 7 day average of confirmed COVID-19 deaths is currently 27.1.

Estimated active cases saw an increase to 25,630.

Hospitalizations have increased in 96 of the last 176 days and 71 of the last 135, but saw a decrease of 28, to lower the total to 592. COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to decrease as of late as there were 2,428 in the Bay State on January 4th. Today’s total is the lowest since November 8th.

Nursing home cases and cluster information issued on March 18th.

Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report

According to the March 18th report, Fall River has a 22.0 Average Daily COVID-19 Rate per 100,000 population (Last 14 days) (23.0 last week). New Bedford saw a decrease to 18.7 (was 21.0). Westport saw an increase to 20.5 (was 17.9), Swansea is at 14.3 and was 18.4 last week. Somerset also saw a decrease as they sit at 12.0 (was 17.0). Freetown stayed at 28.4 which is tops in Bristol County. Dartmouth is currently at 16.0 after seeing 18.3 last week. Acushnet saw 23.9 (was 21.2).

20 Massachusetts communities are still in the red (high risk) which is up from 14 last week. Barnstable, Chicopee, Dighton, Douglas, Fall River, Freetown, Hanson, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Millis, Plymouth, Revere, Rutland, Southwick, Sterling, Sutton, West Bridgewater, and Yarmouth.

Massachusetts residents subject to COVID-19 quarantine by current status up to March 18th
• Total of individuals subject to quarantine: 271,089
• Total of individuals who have completed monitoring (no longer in quarantine): 261,430
• Total of individuals currently undergoing monitoring/under quarantine: 9,659

Massachusetts Officials have issued a “vaccine doses administered and shipped” report updated on March 18th.

As of March 18th, according to the CDC, the United States has seen 29,431,658 cases of COVID-19 with 535,217 reported deaths.

(Graphics courtesy of CDC)