Virus cases in Fall River/New Bedford area, state overall, schools, continue sharp decline

New COVID-19 weekly case counts among Massachusetts schools remain high, however, for the third week in a row, cases have seen a decline from week to week.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 10,068 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from January 27th to February 2nd. 1,918 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past week at 11,986.

18,536 new COVID-19 cases for students were reported from January 20th to January 26th. 3,150 were reported for staff making the total 21,686.

In the period from January 13th to January 19th, the state saw 32,909 cases with 28,151 among students and 4,758 among staff.

Back in March of 2021, 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 January 27th to February 2nd.

Acushnet: 13 students and 1 staff
Attleboro: 100 students and 8 staff
Dartmouth: 49 students and 10 staff
Fairhaven: 24 students and 3 staff
Fall River: 38 students and 26 staff
New Bedford: 127 students and 26 staff
Plymouth: 73 students and 21 staff
Seekonk: 26 students and 7 staff
Somerset: 36 students and 8 staff
Swansea: 57 students and 10 staff
Taunton: 29 students and 7 staff
Westport: 24 students and 7 staff

Fall River schools continue to see a per day decline in new student cases in the report this week. The city did however tie for 5th in the state in new staff cases with New Bedford.

The city has seen 28,739 cases among all residents and is currently seeing an average of just over 145 cases per day the last two weeks, second in Bristol County. Last week, the two-week average was just over 230 cases per day and the week before that was just over 300.

New Bedford has totaled 31,808 cases among all residents with a current average of just over 166 cases per day the last two weeks which leads Bristol County. Last week the two-week average was just over 270 cases with just under 365 the week before last.

Courtesy Massachusetts Department of Health

Deaths and hospitalizations statewide have decreased for the third straight week. Total confirmed and probable deaths in MA from COVID-19 are 22,379 since the beginning of the pandemic. The average age of infection is 34 with an average age of 77 concerning those who have died from the virus.

Courtesy Massachusetts Department of Health