Massachusetts school virus cases climb with nearly 10,000 in two weeks, Fall River leaps over New Bedford

COVID-19 cases among Massachusetts schools increased yet again this week with an even sharper climb.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 8,513 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from November 18th to December 1st. 1,396 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past two weeks at 9,909. No report was released by DESE last Thursday due to the holiday.

3,257 new COVID-19 cases for students were reported from November 11th to November 17th. 558 were reported for staff making the total 3,815.

A total of 3,021 new COVID-19 cases were reported from November 4th to November 10th with 381 reported for staff and 2,640 for students.

Back in March, student numbers were in the 400s with staff cases under 200.

Here are the statistics from some area cities and towns from November 11th to November 17th.

Acushnet: 15 students and 1 staff
Attleboro: 72 students and 3 staff
Dartmouth: 67 students and 8 staff
Fairhaven: 25 students and 5 staff
Fall River: 104 students and 16 staff
New Bedford: 78 students and 21 staff
Plymouth: 116 students and 18 staff
Seekonk: 6 students and 3 staff
Somerset: 27 students and 8 staff
Swansea: 38 students and 1 staff
Taunton: 61 students and 4 staff
Westport: 21 students and 4 staff

Fall River schools ranked 7th in student cases in the report this week leaping over New Bedford for the first time in recent memory. Just four weeks ago, Fall River had 6 new student cases and none among staff. The city has seen over 18,200 cases among all residents and is currently seeing an average of over 47 cases per day the last two weeks.

New Bedford has seen a drop in ranking in the state. The city had the 16th most student cases when the community had been in or near the top 5 for much of the summer and fall. New Bedford has totaled nearly 20,000 cases among all residents with a current average of over 55 cases per day the last two weeks.