Virus cases climb as do vaccine efforts
BOSTON » Health officials announced 6,887 new cases of coronavirus diagnosed statewide on Thursday, along with 81 deaths confirmed from the virus, as health care providers continue to administer vaccinations across Massachusetts.
The new cases reported by the state Department of Public Health on Thursday brings the total confirmed cases of infection statewide since last January to 359,445. The total of confirmed deaths due to the virus brings the state’s death toll to 12,157, as of Thursday, according to the DPH.
There is an estimated 80,359 active cases of the virus in Massachusetts as of Thursday, including 2,271 infected patients hospitalized, health officials said. Of the total number hospitalized, 417 patients were in intensive care and 240 patients were intubated as of Thursday.
According to the DPH data, Fitchburg and Leominster continue to be considered at high risk for coronavirus infection.
To qualify in the high-risk category, the DPH states communities with populations under 10,000 must have more than 25 cases of the virus. For communities between 10,000 and 50,000 people, they must have an average of at least 10 cases per 100,000 people and a positive test rate of at least 5%. For communities with a population exceeding 50,000, they must have at least 10 cases per 100,000 people and a positive test rate of at least 4%.
Thursday’s figures shows Fitchburg with an average incidence rate during the last 14 days reaching approximately 77 people per 100,000. In Leominster, the average incidence rate is slightly more than 85.3 cases per 100,000.
With the final hours of 2020 ticking away, the U.S. Center for
Disease Control and Prevention announced there had been 341,199 deaths from the coronavirus as of Thursday. The CDC estimated previously in the week the virus will claim 424,000 lives nationwide by Jan. 23.
On Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker brought some positive news during a press conference, reporting there had been more than 50 vaccination clinics set up in long-term care facilities statewide during the past week, with the expectation that 20,000 individuals would receive vaccinations.
“Clinics will continue to be launched on a rolling basis, to distribute about 219,000 doses of the vaccine to all longterm care facilities over the next month,” Baker said Wednesday.
Based on data released by the DPH on Thursday, there have been a total of 78,643 vaccinations administered to state residents during the last two weeks. The vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer require each person to receive two doses to be considered fully vaccinated. To date, no state resident has received a second dose, according to DPH data.
Baker said Wednesday, a second dose of the vaccine has been ordered for distribution.
As of Thursday, the DPH also announced there has been 285,050 total vac
cine doses shipped to Massachusetts during the last two weeks, including 30,200 to Worcester County.
Baker used Wednesday’s press conference to remind Massachusetts residents of the statewide capacity restrictions put in place last Saturday “to reduce mobility and promote social distancing” in hopes of slowing the virus’ surge. The restrictions include a maximum of 10 people allowed for inside gatherings and 25 people for outside gatherings “in all circumstances.”
“These restrictions will be in place for at least two weeks, and we will continue to evaluate the data to determine if any future steps should be taken,” Baker said Wednesday.
Below is the total COVID-19 infections by city and town from Jan. 1, 2020, through Wednesday and how that total compares to last week’s numbers: Ashburnham – 166 (+20)
Ashby – 84 (+8)
Ayer – 426 (+89)
Fitchburg -2,728 (+206)
Gardner – 1,033 (+177)
Groton – 231 (+18)
Lancaster – 297 (+29)
Leominster – 2,809 (+268) Lunenburg – 355 (+31)
Pepperell – 270 (+36)
Princeton – 82 (+7)
Rutland – 267 (+18)
Shirley – 622 (+48)
Sterling – 399 (+49)
Townsend – 207 (+22)
Westminster – 223 (+28).