Friday January 14, 2022
COVID-19 Updates
Fourteen Day Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
During the past fourteen days, the average daily incidence rate has greatly increased in the Town of Barnstable as demonstrated in the graph above (see right side of graph). The Town of Barnstable Health Division received 1,091 reports of positive COVID-19 Town of Barnstable residents’ cases during the past two weeks.
This calculates to an average daily incidence rate of 77.9 new cases per day (174.1 per 100,000), the highest incident rate on record since this pandemic began.
Cape Cod Hospitalizations
On January 11th, Cape Cod Healthcare reported sixty (60) patients were being treated at their two hospitals, Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital, for COVID-19. Twelve (12) of the 60 patients were in the intensive care unit. Although hospitalizations have attained high levels comparable to last year’s winter surge, fatalities remain below the peaks seen during prior surges when vaccinations were not broadly available.
Local, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A cumulative total of 7,743 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 29,131 confirmed cases and a total of 577 deaths cumulatively; this includes eleven (11) additional deaths in Barnstable County since last Friday. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,305,830 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 20,386 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 64,082,824 positive Covid-19 patients to date, resulting in 846,488 total deaths nationwide.
MA Hospitalizations/ Number of Patients Fully Vaccinated When Contracting COVID-19
According to today’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health report, on January 5th, there were 3,180 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 3,180 patients, 1,505 patients (47.3%) were reported to be fully vaccinated for COVID -19 when they contracted COVID-19.
Number of Deaths in MA/ Average Age of Death in Massachusetts
Today’s Massachusetts Department of Public Health report indicated that there were 36 new, confirmed deaths during the past week. This brings the cumulative total to 20,386 confirmed deaths from this virus in Massachusetts. The average age of death was 73 years old during the past week.
Vaccinations of Barnstable County Residents
Our vaccination percentage rate continues to be one of the highest compared to other Massachusetts counties. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported this week that ninety-three percent (93%) 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 Eighty-two (82%) of our age- eligible (ages 5 and older) residents are fully vaccinated.
Booster Vaccinations of Barnstable County Residents/ Statewide and Nationwide Comparisons
53% of the fully vaccinated Barnstable County residents recently received a booster dose. This is one of the highest booster vaccination percentage rates compared to most other counties within Massachusetts (excluding the islands). It also should be noted that Massachusetts has a high population booster vaccination rate at 46%, compared to 37% of the national population.
Town of Barnstable – Continued Daily Response
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. Key officials of the Town continue to meet twice weekly, and more often as needed, to share information relative to case numbers, hospitalizations, trends and scientific changes associated with the virus, information regarding new variants, CDC and State guidance/directives, and to plan and provide additional preventative measures and services.
The Health Division continues to employ hourly contract nurses who 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 close contact with them, including household members, co-workers, daycare center owners, schools, etc. regarding proper quarantine requirements. Health Division staff continue to meet twice weekly to plan and implement actionable preventative measures and to ensure we are providing the most up-to-date guidance provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), requirements provided by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and orders provided by the Massachusetts Governor.
Strong Recommendations
The Health Division continues to urge residents to follow the CDC prevention strategies such as wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, washing your hands frequently, physically distancing from others, and by getting fully vaccinated. We also encourage getting a COVID-19 vaccine booster dose for those who are eligible.
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