Virus cases continue to climb in New Bedford, Fall River, and Massachusetts in schools and beyond

COVID-19 cases among Massachusetts schools increased yet again this week.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 3,257 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from November 11th to November 17th. 558 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past week at 3,815.

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

A total of 2,218 new COVID-19 cases were reported from October 28th to November 3rd with 339 reported for staff and 1,879 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: 11 students and 4 staff
Attleboro: 20 students and 3 staff
Dartmouth: 14 students and 7 staff
Fairhaven: 7 students and 1 staff
Fall River: 35 students and 12 staff
New Bedford: 66 students and 11 staff
Plymouth: 27 students and 3 staff
Seekonk: 4 students and 1 staff
Somerset: 5 students and 1 staff
Swansea: 11 students and 0 staff
Taunton: 47 students and 8 staff
Westport: 1 student and 1 staff

Fall River schools saw new cases increase again this week after more than quadrupling last week. The city ranked 5th in staff cases this week. Just two weeks ago, Fall River had 6 new student cases and none among staff. The city has seen over 17,500 cases among all residents and is currently seeing an average of nearly 30 cases per day.

New Bedford continues to rank near the top in the state in new cases. The city had the 7th most staff cases this week, the 3rd most student cases, and the 3rd most cases overall. New Bedford has totaled over 19,000 cases among all residents with a current average of approximately 35 cases per day.