Decrease in the Fourteen Day Average Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
During the past fourteen days, the average daily incidence rate has again significantly decreased in the Town of Barnstable as demonstrated in the graph below (see right side of graph). The Town of Barnstable Health Division received 248 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 17.7 new cases per day (39.6 per 100,000).
Local, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A cumulative total of 9,054 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 33,963 confirmed cases and a total of 656 deaths cumulatively; this includes thirteen (13) additional deaths in Barnstable County during the past seven days. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,527,970 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 22,361 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 78,269,887 positive Covid-19 patients to date, resulting in 931,742 total deaths nationwide as of February 18th.
MA Hospitalizations/ Number of Patients Fully Vaccinated When Contracting COVID-19
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health report, on February 16th, there were 776 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 776 patients, 414 patients (53%) 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 37 new, confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents during the past week. 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-five percent (95%) 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-three (83%) of our age- eligible (ages 5 and older) residents are fully vaccinated.
Booster Vaccinations
58% of the fully vaccinated Barnstable County residents recently received a booster dose. In Massachusetts overall, 53% of those fully vaccinated have received a booster dose, compared to 43% of the national population.
Town of Barnstable- Continued Response
Key officials of the Town continue to meet twice weekly and more often as needed to plan ahead and implement actions relative to recommended changes in response to decreased or increased 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 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.