November 19th 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: 194 (+21 from last week)
• Hopkinton: 206 (+18)
• Southborough: 100 (+5)
• Westborough: 494 (+30)

Each town is assigned a “stoplight system” of community risk, which accounts for population size, positivity rate, and new case rates per 100,000. Based on this week’s data, Hopkinton and Westborough join Holliston in the moderate risk category, and Southborough remains in the lower risk category. Risk determinations are 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. You can also review the list of communities that must remain in Step 1 of Phase III of reopening here, which is updated weekly with new community-level public health data.

News Updates

Coronavirus Testing and Response

• Today, the state saw 2,532 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 192,050 total cases and 27 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
• The average new cases over the last 7 days is 2,442, and the average number of deaths is 27.
• The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 3.2%.
• 92,139 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: 917 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 32 from yesterday.
• Hospital Capacity: As of 11/19, 27% of the Commonwealth’s 10,900 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (45% 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 11/19, there are 398 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 26,691 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,645 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.