November 12th COVID-19 Update

Each week, the Department of Public Health releases community-level numbers of COVID-19 testing and positive case totals. Our town-by-town numbers in this week’s public health report can be found below:

• Holliston: 173 (+17 from last week)
• Hopkinton: 188 (+10)
• Southborough: 95 (+5)
• Westborough: 464 (+14)

Last week, the administration adjusted the “stoplight system” of community risk assessment to account for population size and positivity rate in addition to new case rates per 100,000. Based on the new system of calculation and this week’s data, Holliston remains in the moderate risk category, and Westborough joins Hopkinton and Southborough in the lower risk category. Reminder: risk determinations are still based on the most recent two weeks of data, so case growth over the last 7 days may not reflect the overall risk category.

You can read this week’s public health report here, which also includes data broken down by demographic category, a summary of positive cases and testing at higher education institutions, and COVID-19 case and death data at long-term care facilities.

News Updates

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 2,482 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 174,593 total cases and 21 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 2,036, and the average number of deaths is 22.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 2.9%.
• 98,075 new molecular tests for COVID-19 were reported in the Commonwealth today.
• 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

• Hospitalization: 661 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 2 from yesterday.
• Hospital Capacity: As of 11/12, 27% of the Commonwealth’s 10,8000 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (50% of statewide ICU beds are available). In the MetroWest region, 28% of the region’s non-ICU 1,800 beds are available for new patients (50% of regional ICU beds are available).
• Long-term care: As of 11/12, there are 392 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 26,143 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,538 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 and State Resources

Town Resources

All of the towns in the 8th Middlesex District have centralized COVID-19 resource pages with resources, updates, and alerts regarding town services.

Holliston | Hopkinton | Southborough | Westborough

Job/Income Loss Resources

COVID-19 is also 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

• Pandemic Unemployment Assistance
• CARES Act Unemployment Changes
• Unemployment Town Halls

Department of Transitional Assistance

• Pandemic-EBT benefits for schoolchildren

Statewide Information

Information on the state of emergency and related orders can be found here.

• Face covering advisory
• Large gatherings/social distancing advisory

Reopening guidance can be found at mass.gov/reopening. 

• Sector-specific guidance
• Health care-specific guidance
• “When can my business reopen” chart

Information on COVID-19 testing can be found at mass.gov/gettested.