Friday October 22, 2021
Coronavirus (COVID-19) Updates
Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
The average daily incidence rate (average number of new COVID-19 positive cases) has increased during the past week as demonstrated in the graph below (see right side of graph). During the past fourteen days, the Health Division received 106 new positive COVID-19 case reports, which calculates to an average daily incidence rate of 7.6 new cases per day.
Town, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A total of 4,983 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 cumulatively to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 17,534 positive cases and a total of 515 deaths cumulatively from Coronavirus; this includes two (2) deaths since last Friday. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 784,800 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 18,505 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University website, there have been 45,302,004 positive Coronavirus patients to date, resulting in 733,226 total deaths nationwide.
Cape Cod Hospitalizations
As of October 19th, Cape Cod Healthcare reported a reduction in the number of COVID-19 patients to a total of eight (8) who were being treated at their two hospitals, Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital. This includes one (1) patient in intensive care.
COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations in Fully Vaccinated Persons
As of October 16, 2021, 4,686,467 Massachusetts residents were fully vaccinated. There were 47,929 (1.02%) COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated people. One thousand five hundred and fifty-six (1,566) of those 47,929 cases (0.03%) resulted in hospitalizations. Three hundred and seventy-one (371) cases (0.008%) resulted in death, based on information reported to date. Here is a link to mass.gov website provides this information weekly: https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-report-covid-19-cases-in-vaccinated-individuals-october-19-2021/download
* Vaccinations began December 14, 2020; the earliest date at which individuals would be considered fully vaccinated is January 19, 2021.
Average Age of Death in Massachusetts
There were 20 new confirmed deaths in Massachusetts from COVID-19 during the past week. The average age of death was 74 years old.
Vaccinations of Barnstable County Residents
Our population vaccination percentage rate continues to be one of the highest compared to other counties and other states. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported this week that ninety percent (90%) of our Barnstable County residents who were eligible to receive vaccinations (ages 12 and older) have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Eighty-one (81%) of our age- eligible residents are now fully vaccinated.
Moving Forward
The Town will continue to follow the orders and directives provided by of our Massachusetts Governor and protocols provided by the State Department of Public Health Under the leadership of Town Manager Mark Ells, key officials of the Town continue to meet twice weekly to share communications relative to recent trends and scientific changes associated with the virus, CDC and State guidance and directives, as well as effectively administering the multitude of policies and programs in step with the Town’s Mission Statement and Strategic Plan as approved by the Town Council. Schools and childcare centers continue to be subject to guidance from DESE and the MA Department of Public Health.
Health Division
Health Division staff continue to meet twice weekly to plan and implement actionable preventative measures and to ensure we are providing guidance and/or enforcement in step with the recommendations provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), requirements provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and orders provided by the Massachusetts Governor. Our Public Health Nurse and contract nurses continue to work daily, including during holidays and week-ends, to contact those who become infected to ensure they are appropriately isolated and to contact individuals who have come into contact with them to take the required quarantine precautions.
Recommendations/ Posted Signage
The following signage has been recently posted within municipal buildings. We suggest following these recommendations at all locations:
- Individuals who are not vaccinated should wear a mask in indoor public settings;
- If you are fully vaccinated, to maximize protection from the Delta variant and to prevent possibly spreading it to others, wear a mask indoors in public if you are within a crowded public space where transmission of the virus is more likely (i.e. where it is not possible to maintain six feet separation from others);
- People who are taking medications that weaken their immune system may not be fully protected, even if they are fully vaccinated, and should continue to take all precautions, including wearing a well-fitted mask;
- Please cover your face when you cough, and sneeze into your elbow;
- Continue to wash your hands;
- If you are not feeling well, please stay home.
If you should have any questions, please feel free to call us at the Town of Barnstable Health Division Office at 508 862 4644.
Respectfully Submitted,
Thomas A. McKean, RS, CHO
Director of Public Health