Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable
The incidence rate has increased in the Town of Barnstable to a fourteen day daily average of 17.3 new cases per day (adjusted population equivalent to 38.6 per 100,000).
High Risk Level Classification and Recommendations
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to classify Barnstable County as being at a high community risk level. The following prevention steps are recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention:
- Wear a mask indoors in public, particularly if you are at high risk for severe illness; or if you have a household contact or in social contact with someone at high risk for severe disease;
- Stay up to date with COVID-19 vaccines;
- Get tested if you have symptoms;
- Additional precautions may be needed for people at high risk for severe illness
BA.2, BA.2.12.1, and BA 2.12 Variants/ More Contagious
The more contagious Omicron variant, BA.2, has been the most dominant version of COVID-19 in the United States Scientists have identified twenty-one (21) viral offspring associated with BA.2. The BA.2 variant is more transmissible but is less virulent. It does not make people sicker than the earlier version of Omicron. It often develops a scratchy throat, cough, and muscle pain.
As these variants continued to spread in recent weeks, cases and hospitalizations rose as well. The 7-day average number of cases in the country has risen from about 25,000 in late March to more than 56,000 during the first week of May.
Local, County, State, and National Cumulative Case and Death Counts
A cumulative total of 9,783 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date. In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 37,351 confirmed cases and a total of 582 deaths cumulatively. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,653,674 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts and 19,243 deaths from COVID-19 cumulatively to date in the State. In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 82,325,714 positive Covid-19 patients cumulatively to date, resulting in 999,128 total deaths nationwide.
Hospitalizations Reported By Cape Cod Healthcare
Cape Cod Healthcare reported on May 12th (yesterday) that there were a total of twenty-two (22) patients who were being treated for COVID-19 at Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals. Three (3) of the twenty-two patients were undergoing treatment in intensive care.
Hospitalizations in Massachusetts
According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, on May 11th, 2022, there were at total of 728 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts. Of those 728 patients, 484 patients (66%) were reported to be fully vaccinated when they contracted COVID-19.
Deaths of Massachusetts Residents During the Past Week
There were sixteen (16) new, confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents during the past week. The average age of death was 78 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 56% of the Massachusetts population and compared to 46% of the national population..
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas McKean, RS, CHO,
Director of Public Health