Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
The incidence rate has increased in the Town of Barnstable to a fourteen day daily average of 12.6 new cases per day (equivalent to 28.2 per100,000).
Local, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A cumulative total of 9,515 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 36,050 confirmed cases and a total of 579 deaths cumulatively. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,596,013 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 19,129 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 81,251,637 positive Covid-19 patients cumulatively to date, resulting in 993,164 total deaths nationwide as of yesterday, April 28th, 2022.
Hospitalizations Reported By Cape Cod Healthcare
Cape Cod Healthcare reported yesterday that there were a total of fifteen (15) patients who were being treated for COVID-19 at Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals. Three (3) of the fifteen patients were undergoing treatment in intensive care.
Hospitalizations in Massachusetts
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, on April 27th, 2022, there were at total of 431 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 431 patients, 265 patients (61%) were reported to be fully vaccinated for COVID -19 when they contracted COVID-19.
Deaths of Massachusetts Residents During the Past Week
There were ten (10) new, confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents during the past week. The average age of death was 79 years old.
Booster Status of Fully- Vaccinated Barnstable County Residents
Sixty-one (61%) of Barnstable County residents received booster doses after being fully vaccinated, compared to 46% of the national population..
BA.2, BA.2.12.1, and BA 2.12 Variants
A more contagious Omicron variant, BA.2, has been the most dominant version of COVID-19 in the United States The BA.2 variant accounts for more than 90% of the COVID-19 cases. This variant is more transmissible but is less virulent. It does not make people sicker than the earlier version of Omicron. Scientists have identified twenty-one (21) viral offspring associated with BA.2. Two of the mutation offshoots identified as BA.2.12.1 and BA.2.12, have been causing a rise in Covid-19 cases. One of them, BA.2.12.1, is spreading rapidly and overtaking the BA.2 Omicron variant. In New York; it accounted for more than 58% of the cases on April 23rd. Although cases are expected to continue to rise in the coming weeks, federal health officials do not expect another surge.
Medium Risk Level/ Prevention Steps
Our community risk level is now classified as “medium” by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (C.D.C.). If you are at high risk for severe illness, talk to your healthcare provider about whether you need to wear a mask and take other precautions. Also stay up-to-date with your COVID-19 vaccinations, and get tested if you have any symptoms.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas McKean, RS, CHO,
Director of Public Health