Massachusetts schools see over 50,000 virus cases in two weeks, Fall River, New Bedford going in different directions

COVID-19 cases among Massachusetts schools have shown no indication of slowing down.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 38,887 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from December 23rd to January 5th. 12,213 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past two week at 51,100.

8,576 new COVID-19 cases for students were reported from December 16th to December 22nd. 1,544 were reported for staff making the total 10,120.

In the period from December 9th to December 15th, the state saw 8,376 cases with 7,223 among students and 1,153 among staff.

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

Here are the statistics from some area cities and towns from December 23rd to January 5th.

Acushnet: 31 students and 15 staff
Attleboro: 325 students and 54 staff
Dartmouth: 269 students and 44 staff
Fairhaven: 102 students and 22 staff
Fall River: 64 students and 55 staff
New Bedford: 300 students and 200 staff
Plymouth: 431 students and 129 staff
Seekonk: 151 students and 37 staff
Somerset: 78 students and 37 staff
Swansea: 132 students and 15 staff
Taunton: 77 students and 20 staff
Westport: 66 students and 16 staff

Fall River schools saw another drop in new student cases in the report this week despite the state seeing a serious increase in new school cases. The city has seen over 22,727 cases among all residents and is currently seeing an average of just under 150 cases per day the last two weeks, second in Bristol County. Last week the two-week average was just over 102.

New Bedford saw a spike in new school cases but dropped out of the top 20 in the state. New Bedford has totaled over 24,835 cases among all residents with a current average of just under 160 cases per day the last two weeks which leads Bristol County. Last week the two-week average was just over 105.