November 13th COVID-19 Update

This week we passed a sobering threshold in our experience with the COVID-19 pandemic: there have been over 10,000 confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents due to COVID-19. Each of these deaths is not a statistic; it is a life-altering loss for a family and a community forced to grapple with grief in extraordinary and often isolating circumstances.

We must remember that when we work to comply with social distancing, mask use, and other public health guidance, we are also working to prevent more loss of life. And now, more than, ever, we must remain vigilant: this week also saw the statewide positive test rate top 3% for the first time since June and today marked our highest daily new cases total since April, our third-highest total ever. The pandemic is still here, it is still dangerous, and our trends are worsening both here and around the country. Please continue doing everything you can to keep yourselves and your loved ones safe.

News Updates

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 2,647 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 177,627 total cases and 23 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 2,127, and the average number of deaths is 23.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 3.1%.
• 81,305 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: 687 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 26 from yesterday.
• Hospital Capacity: As of 11/13, 26% of the Commonwealth’s 11,000 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (47% 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 (33% of regional ICU beds are available).
• Long-term care: As of 11/13, there are 394 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 26,203 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,555 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 Update

• This week’s public health report provided an update on town-by-town positive case numbers and corresponding risk categories for each of the four communities in the 8th Middlesex District. Town-by-town numbers are below:
• Holliston: 173 (+17 from last week), moderate risk
• Hopkinton: 188 (+10), lower risk
• Southborough: 95 (+5), lower risk
• Westborough: 464 (+14), lower risk
• Risk categories are formed using a combination of population size, new case rate per 100,000, and positive test rate. For more information on risk categories, click here.

Education

• The weekly public health report now contains information on testing and positive cases in Massachusetts-based colleges and universities, which can be found here starting on page 44.
• 566 new COVID-19 cases associated with higher education testing have been reported since last week. 2,511 total cases have been reported associated with higher education testing.
• The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education now reports student and staff positive cases reported by school districts within the last week. These reports count all positive cases among students participating in-person or hybrid learning models, and staff who have been in a school building within 7 days of a positive test. This week’s report and reporting definitions can be found here.
• Holliston: 0 students; 0 staff
• Hopkinton: 0 students; 0 staff
• Southborough: 0 students; 0 staff
• Northboro-Southboro: 0 students; 0 staff
• Westborough: 1 student; 0 staff

Travel

• The state’s COVID-19 travel order, which requires testing or self-quarantine for all visitors and returning residents from all higher-risk U.S. states, is updated weekly based on new public health data from around the country. Information on the order can be found here and information on changes to the state risk designations can be found below.
• Lower-risk states: Hawaii, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont
• Removed this week: Washington, New York, Washington D.C.

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.