Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
The average daily incidence rate has slightly increased in the Town of Barnstable during the past week as demonstrated in the graph below (see right side of graph). During the past fourteen days, the Health Division received 109 new positive COVID-19 case reports, which calculates to an average daily incidence rate of 7.8 new cases per day.
Town, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A total of 5,033 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 cumulatively to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 17,748 positive cases and a total of 516 deaths cumulatively from Coronavirus; this includes one (1) death in the past week. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 793,137 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 18,589 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 45,827,172 positive Coronavirus patients to date, resulting in 743,369 total deaths nationwide.
Cape Cod Hospitalizations
As of October 22nd, Cape Cod Healthcare reported eleven (11) patients were being treated at their two hospitals, Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital, for Covid-19. This includes two patients in intensive care.
COVID-19 Cases and Hospitalizations in Fully Vaccinated Persons
As of October 23, 2021, 4,711,614 Massachusetts residents were fully vaccinated. There were 51,007 (1.08%) COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated people. One thousand six hundred and eighty-seven (1,687) of those 51,007 cases (0.04%) resulted in hospitalizations. Four hundred and six (406) cases (0.009%) 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-26-2021/download
[* Vaccinations began December 14, 2020; the earliest date at which individuals would be considered fully vaccinated is January 19, 2021.
Source: MIIS data, MAVEN data]
Average Age of Death in Massachusetts
There were 12 new confirmed deaths in Massachusetts from COVID-19 during the past week. The average age of death was 72 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 quarantine precautions, as required if unvaccinated.
Recommendations/ Posted Signage
The following signage has been 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.
These reports are updated on a weekly basis. 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