Community Level Designation
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) continues to classify Barnstable County as being at a low 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.
Reported Case Counts and Deaths
Town of Barnstable: 12,724 total positive residents cumulatively to date, 45 new cases during the last two weeks (LOWER). Average daily incidence rate 6.6 per 100,000 (LOWER); positivity rate 5.39% (LOWER).
Barnstable County: 49,849 cases, 225 new cases in the last two weeks; 791 deaths cumulatively.
Massachusetts: 2,028,091 cases of State of Massachusetts residents cumulatively to date, 4,304 cases in the last two weeks; 22,452 deaths cumulatively, 38 new confirmed deaths in the past seven days. The average age of death during the past week was 81 years old.
Local Average Daily Incidence Rate
The fourteen day average daily incidence rate of Town of Barnstable residents has deceased during the past seven weeks. As of Friday March 24th, the average daily incidence rate was at 3.2 new cases per day.
Local Hospitalizations
There were a total of fifteen (15) patients being treated for COVID-19 at Cape Cod and Falmouth hospitals on March 23, 2023. None of the fifteen patients were in intensive care.
National Update
Hospitalizations in the United States decreased by 20.1% compared to the previous week. . Also, the number of new positive cases decreased by 12.87% compared to the previous week. However deaths have increased 17.5% compared to the previous week according to data provided by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) as depicted in the chart below.
Global Update
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there were nearly 3.7 million new cases and 26,000 deaths reported during last 28 days (February 20th through March 19, 2023), a decrease of 31% and 46% respectively compared to the previous 28 days. However it should be noted that there are significant regional differences including increases in some regions.
Prevention Steps
The following prevention steps are recommended by the U.S Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) at all community levels:
- Get tested if you develop symptoms.
- Maintain ventilation improvements.
- Follow recommendations for isolation if you have suspected or confirmed COVID-19 (stay at home for five days, do not travel, wear a mask, etc).
- Stay up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations.
Respectfully submitted,
Thomas McKean, RS, CHO,
Director of Public Health
TOWN OF BARNSTABLE