COVID-19: October 26, 2020 Update from Representative Dykema
October 26th Coronavirus Update
As you will no doubt see in today’s newsletter, the statewide COVID-19 report, and ongoing news coverage of our pandemic, today Massachusetts reported its third consecutive day of 1,000+ new positive cases. To help you get a better sense of what that means for us, I wanted to share some key statistics and trends that help to illustrate the state of the pandemic here in the Commonwealth.
Case numbers: Our daily case numbers have climbed significantly in recent weeks, and today’s 7-day average of 980 new cases a day represents a 150% increase from this time last month. We are testing more people on average than we were in September and far more than we were in May, the last time we consistently had daily case numbers over 1,000, so these increases do somewhat reflect increases in testing, but in recent weeks, growth in new cases has far outpaced growth in testing.
Positive test rate: The number of tests that come back positive relative to total testing numbers is far lower than it was in May, but has increased significantly in recent weeks as well. Our weighted average positive rate of 1.6% is well above the 0.9% positivity rate one month ago, and those numbers are higher in some large cities, including Boston. One positive takeaway is that higher education positive test rates have consistently stayed low, with only 1,508 positive cases from 1.7 million tests reported to the Department of Public Health from colleges and universities.
Hospitalizations: The number of patients hospitalized with COVID-19 has also increased, but fortunately at a slower and less steady rate than positive cases. 550 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19, a 55% increase from one month ago, but still far lower than during our “surge” period in April. Available hospital capacity has hovered between 30 and 40 percent, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity has remained low statewide.
In short, our current “data snapshot” is not as dire as it was during the first months of the pandemic, but virtually all public health metrics tracked by the Department of Public Health are trending in the wrong direction. As we plan for the coming weeks and months, please remain mindful of all state and local guidance on COVID-19 prevention and please get tested if you feel ill.
New Updates
Coronavirus Testing and Response
- Today, the state saw 1,216 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 148,336 total cases and 17 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
- The average new cases over the last 7 days is 980, and the average number of deaths is 18.
- The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 1.6%.
- 550 individuals are hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 12 from yesterday.
- The Department of Public Health regularly releases a daily reporting dashboard containing detailed information on hospitalizations, demographic data, and county-by-county breakdowns of cases. To view the DPH dashboard, visit here.
Heath Care
- Hospital Capacity: As of 10/26, 35% of the Commonwealth’s 12,700 permanent and temporary hospital beds are available for new patients if needed. In the MetroWest region, 35% of the region’s 2,000 beds are available for new patients.
- Long-term care: As of 10/26, there are 391 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 25,486 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,347 COVID-19 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
- For information on COVID-19 testing and guidance on whether you should get tested, how to get tested, and where to get tested, visit the COVID-19 testing portal at mass.gov/gettested.
Local Resources
All of the towns in the 8th Middlesex District now have centralized COVID-19 resource pages with resources, updates, and alerts regarding town services.
Holliston | Hopkinton | Southborough | Westborough
The Department of Public Health also releases weekly reports on town-by-town COVID-19 case numbers and rates, which can be found online here.
Resources for Residents Experiencing Job Loss or Loss of Income
COVID-19 is causing broad disruption to the economy which is affecting incomes of many residents and families. There are a number of State resources and supports available to support workers who may find themselves unemployed or otherwise income-constrained during this uncertain time.
Guide for job/income loss resources: https://carolyndykema.com/covid19-state-resources
Department of Unemployment Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/department-of-unemployment-assistance
Department of Transitional Assistance: https://www.mass.gov/dta-covid-19-resources-and-support
Statewide Information
Information on the state of emergency and related orders can be found here.
Reopening guidance can be found at mass.gov/reopening.
Information on COVID-19 testing can be found at mass.gov/gettested.
How You Can Help
Holliston Youth and Family Services requests your support of the Community Action Fund, which provides emergency assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.
Southborough’s Community Fund has supported local COVID-19 response efforts and families impacted by the pandemic, as well as other charitable organizations in Town. Learn more or donate here.
The Westborough Rotary Club has launched a COVID-19 Community Relief Fund to provide assistance to those affected by COVID-19. Learn more or donate here.
The American Red Cross is asking for blood donations, the need for which is significant due to blood drive cancellations. The need is dire due to the cancellation of hundreds of blood drives. People can donate at the Worcester American Red Cross Donor Center, 381 Plantation St. Worcester or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Some local donor sites, including the Natick Senior Center, are available for appointments as well.
Information on our local food pantries can be found below. The most pressing need right now is cash donations to ensure that food drop-off and delivery do not inadvertently contribute to the spread of the virus.
Holliston Pantry Shelf | Project Just Because | Southborough Food Pantry | Westborough Food Pantry
