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According to the latest information released by the CDC on Tuesday, the BA.5 Omicron subvariant is now estimated to be responsible for 77.9% of COVID cases in the United States.  This subvariant spreads approximately 4.2 times faster than the omicron variant and stands up well against natural immunity from past infections.  Another omicron subvariant known as BA.4, currently makes up 12.8% of cases, representing a slight decline from last week, even as the number of BA.5 cases continue to increase.

Incidence Rate in the Town of Barnstable

The average daily incidence rate, calculated from case reports received during the past fourteen days, slightly decreased in the Town of Barnstable to an average of 11.1 new COVID-19 cases per day (see right side of graph.   \

Local, County, State, and Nationwide Cumulative Case and Cumulative Death Counts

A cumulative total of 10,704 Town of Barnstable residents have been diagnosed with COVID-19 to date.  In Barnstable County, there have been a total of 41,439 confirmed cases cumulatively resulting in 616 deaths of Barnstable County residents..  The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported there have been a total of 1,793,437 positive cases in the State of Massachusetts cumulatively to date in the State, resulting in 19,818 deaths.  In the United States overall, according to the John Hopkins University, there have been 90,200,438 positive COVID-19 cases cumulatively resulting in 1,026,294 deaths nationwide as of this date (July 21st).

Hospitalizations in Barnstable County

Cape Cod Healthcare reported that on July 21st there were a total of twenty-three (23) patients who were being treated for COVID-19 at Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals.  None of the patients were in intensive care.

Hospitalizations in Massachusetts 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, on July 19th there were a total of 189 patients primarily hospitalized for COVID-19 in Massachusetts.  In total, there were 589 patents hospitalized with COVID -19. Of those 589 patients, 348 patients (59%) were reported to be fully vaccinated when they contracted COVID-19.  

Deaths of Massachusetts Residents During the Past Week

There were forty-two (42) new, confirmed deaths of Massachusetts residents during the past seven days.  The average age of death was 78 years old.  

Booster Status/  Percentage of Barnstable County Residents

Sixty-two (62%) of Barnstable County residents received booster doses after being fully vaccinated, compared to 58% of the Massachusetts population and  compared to 48% of the national population.. These statuses have not changed during the past month. 

Medium COVID-19 Community Level Designation/ Recommendations 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to classify this area, the fifteen towns of Barnstable County, as being at a medium COVID-19 community level.   Community levels can be low, medium, or high and are determined by looking at hospital admissions and the total number of COVID-19 cases in an area.  

The following prevention steps are recommended:

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas McKean, RS, CHO, 

Director of Public Health