Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
The average daily incidence rate increased in the Town of Barnstable during the past week as demonstrated in the graph above (see right side of graph). During the past fourteen days, the Health Division received 233 new positive COVID-19 case reports, which calculates to an average daily incidence rate of 16.6 new cases per day (equivalent to 37.2 per 100,000 population).
Town, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A total of 5,416 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 cumulatively to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 19,460 positive cases and a total of 528 deaths cumulatively from Coronavirus in the County. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 847,030 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 18,939 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University website as of November 29th, there have been 48,235,005 positive Coronavirus patients to date, resulting in 776,651 total deaths nationwide.
Cape Cod Hospitalizations
As of November 29th, Cape Cod Healthcare reported there were twenty-nine (29) patients being treated at their two hospitals, Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital, for COVID-19. This number has more than doubled compared to three weeks ago. This includes four (4) patients who were in intensive care.
MA Hospitalizations/ Number of Patients Fully Vaccinated When Contracting COVID-19
Today’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that on November 28, 2021, there were 839 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 839 patients, 301 (36%) were reported to be fully vaccinated for COVID -19 when they contracted COVID-19.
Cumulative Number of Vaccinated Persons in MA/ Hospitalizations and Deaths
Today’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that as of November 20, 2021, 4,826,866 Massachusetts residents were fully vaccinated. There were 71,037 (1.5%) COVID-19 cases in fully vaccinated people. Two thousand two hundred and eighty-five (2,285) of those 71,037 cases (0.05%) resulted in hospitalizations. Five hundred and fifty-two (552) cases (0.01%) resulted in death. 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-november-23-2021/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]
Number of Deaths in MA/ Average Age of Death in Massachusetts
Today’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that there were 21 new, confirmed deaths during the past week; this brings the cumulative total to 18,960 confirmed deaths from COVID-19 in Massachusetts. (Note: There was also one new probable death totaling 413 probable deaths in Massachusetts from COVID-19). The average age of death was 76 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-one percent (91%) of our Barnstable County residents who were eligible to receive vaccinations (ages 5 and older) have received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine Seventy-eight (78%) of our age- eligible (ages 5 and older) residents are fully vaccinated.
Omicron Variant
On November 26, 2021, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified a new variant, B.1.1.529, as a Variant of Concern and has named it Omicron. No cases of this variant have been identified in the U.S. to date. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) is following the details of this new variant, first reported to the WHO by South Africa. We will continue to work with other Massachusetts and U.S. partners to learn more about this variant, as we continue to monitor its path.
Town of Barnstable / 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.
Health Division/ Continued Response
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 telephone individuals who have come into contact with them to take quarantine precautions. 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.
Recommendations
We know what it takes to prevent the spread of COVID-19. The Health Division recommends people follow prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, washing your hands frequently, and physically distancing from others. CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated. The CDC encourages a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for those who are eligible. We continue to advise everyone to continue to follow these recommendations:
- 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 (for example: 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;
- Wear a face covering while indoors at a medical office and at public transportation venues (i.e. while on a bus, taxi, plane, ship, train) as required by State and Federal laws.
- Frequently wash hands for 20 seconds with soap;
- Provide cough hygiene; cough into a tissue when possible (throw it away immediately) or into your arm.
- Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, or nose with unwashed hands.
- Stay at home from work and other activities when ill.
- Avoid contact with those who are ill.
- Stay home to isolate or quarantine when contacted and required by the Board of Health.
This report is 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