COVID-19: December 4, 2020 Update from Representative Dykema

December 4th 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: 243 (+22 from last week)
Hopkinton: 276 (+36)
Southborough: 134 (+23)
Westborough: 585 (+40)

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, Southborough is now in the higher risk category. Holliston, Hopkinton, and Westborough 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.

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

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 5,192 new positive cases of COVID-19 in the Commonwealth, with 237,456 total cases and 37 reported deaths as of today at 4pm.
The average new cases over the last 7 days is 3,673, and the average number of deaths is 39.
The 7-day weighted average positive test rate in Massachusetts is 5.4%.
96,701 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 12/4)

Hospitalization: 1,394 individuals are currently hospitalized with COVID-19 statewide, an increase of 70 from yesterday.
Hospital Capacity: 20% of the Commonwealth’s 10,300 non-ICU hospital beds are available for new patients if needed (38% of statewide ICU beds are available). In the MetroWest region, 26% of the region’s non-ICU 1,900 beds are available for new patients (33% of regional ICU beds are available).
Long-term care: There are 402 long-term care facilities with at least one case of COVID-19 and 27,945 staff and residents in facilities who have tested positive for COVID-19. 6,858 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