COVID-19: December 18, 2020 Update from Representative Dykema

December 19, 2020 / Press Release /

December 18th COVID-19 Update

Each week, the Department of Public Health releases town-by-town COVID-19 case and testing numbers, along with demographic breakdowns of COVID-19 case data and higher education-related testing and positive cases. Our communities’ positive totals in this week’s public health report can be found below:

Holliston: 307 (+32 from last week)
Hopkinton: 328 (+31)
Southborough: 193 (+26)
Westborough: 753 (+101)

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, Westborough joins Southborough in the higher risk category. Holliston and Hopkinton remain in the moderate 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.

Beginning Monday, our daily COVID-19 newsletter will move to a weekly release, although we will periodically send midweek newsletters if and when major new information relative to the pandemic is released. We will continue providing up-to-date daily, weekly, and aggregate data in these newsletters, but if you do want to be sure to follow the COVID-19 numbers on a day-by-day basis, the DPH daily dashboard from which we compile our data can be found here.

News Updates

Below is a summary of the most recent efforts to respond to the wide range of needs in our communities. For a summary of previously issued guidance and state restrictions related to the coronavirus epidemic, visit mass.gov/covid19. For previous updates visit carolyndykema.com/covid19.

Coronavirus Testing and Response

Today, the state saw 5,632 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 302,933 total cases and 53 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
The average new cases over the last 7 days is 4,715, and the average number of deaths is 50.
The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 6.1%.
106,034 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 (as of 12/18)

Hospitalization: 1,874 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 3 from yesterday.
Hospital Capacity: 17% of the Commonwealth’s 9,248 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (29% of statewide ICU beds are available). In the MetroWest region, 17% of the region’s non-ICU 1,502 beds are available for new patients (26% of regional ICU beds are available).
Long-term care: There are 408 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 29,329 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 7,105 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

Department of Transitional Assistance