Friday January 28, 2022
COVID-19 Updates
Decrease in the Fourteen Day Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
During the past fourteen days, the average daily incidence rate has decreased in the Town of Barnstable as demonstrated in the graph below (see right side of graph). The Town of Barnstable Health Division received 917 reports of positive COVID-19 Town of Barnstable residents’ cases during the past two weeks. This calculates to a reduced average daily incidence rate of 65.5 new cases per day (146.3 per 100,000). This is our first report of a local decrease in the average incident rate in two months, since November 2021.
Cape Cod Hospitalizations
On January 26th at 3:00 p.m., Cape Cod Healthcare reported fifty-seven (57) patients were being treated at their two hospitals, Falmouth Hospital and Cape Cod Hospital, for COVID-19. Ten (10) of the 57 patients were in the intensive care unit.
Local, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A cumulative total of 8,610 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 32,438 confirmed cases and a total of 608 deaths cumulatively; this includes twenty-six (26) additional deaths in Barnstable County during the past seven days. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,466,315 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 21,271 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 73,429,392 positive Covid-19 patients to date, resulting in 878,472 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 26th, there were 2,521 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 2,521 patients, 1,284 patients (51%) 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 84 new, confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents during the past week. (This brings the cumulative total to 21,271 confirmed deaths in Massachusetts.) The average age of death was 76 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-four percent (94%) 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
57% of the fully vaccinated Barnstable County residents recently received a booster dose. This reflects one of the highest booster vaccination percentage rates compared to other counties within Massachusetts (excluding the islands).
In Massachusetts overall, 51% of those fully vaccinated have received a booster dose, compared to 40% of the national population.
Pandemic Will Likely Become Endemic
Scientists predict Covid-19 will likely lose its “pandemic” status sometime this year due largely to rising global vaccination rates and due to the developments of antiviral Covid-19 medications that have become more widespread. White House medical adviser Dr. Anthony Fauci recently indicated the coronavirus pandemic won’t end with the elimination of the virus. Instead, he stated a less dangerous and disruptive strain of this virus will likely take hold and become endemic.
Town of Barnstable- Continued Response
Key officials of the Town continue to meet twice weekly and more often as needed to share information relative to case numbers, hospitalizations, death rates, scientific changes associated with the virus, information regarding new variants, CDC and State guidance and directives.
Health Division staff continue to meet twice weekly to ensure we are providing the most up-to-date preventable measures, actions, and services in line with guidance information provided by the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Our Public Health Nurse and hourly contract nurses continue to follow the MA Department of Public Health guidelines in regards to prioritizing case work by only contacting those who become infected to ensure they are appropriately isolating at home, advising management of congregate settings regarding case clusters, and ensuring schools are notified of any positive students.
Recommendations
The Health Division continues to suggest residents should 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
Friday, January 28, 2022 | COVID-19 Updates
