BY NUMBERS: Berkshire County saw six new deaths from COVID-19 on Sunday, for a new total of 144 deaths, with the confirmed case count from 38 to 3,020, the state Department of Public Health said.
With this daily resource, Eagle analyzes local developments in the coronavirus crisis.
DPH said 105 new deaths were recorded in Massachusetts on Sunday, bringing the state total to 12,341. Deaths, including those listed as likely to be caused by COVID-19, are 12,610. The confirmed cases increased from 3,110 to 371,097. According to data provided by Johns Hopkins University, at least 261,672 people in Massachusetts have recovered from COVID-19.
NUMBER OF ACTIVE CASES: 79,261 across the state.
NEW YEAR, NEW DATA VIEW: The state plans to launch a new “interactive dashboard” on Monday, offering users more ways to explore data related to the pandemic, including over time. Marylou Sudders, the secretary of health and human services, last week called the new offer “very exciting”, adding, “It will no longer be like a PowerPoint.” Sorry, Microsoft, but we can do better now.
WESTERN MASS. SCENARIO: Case totals (and death counts) in neighboring counties as of Sunday: Franklin, up to 8 to 1,318 (92); Hampshire, up to 48 to 3,988 (up to 2 to 203); Hampden, up to 172 to 27,058 (up to 8 to 1,063).
DEPOSITS ARRIVING: Residents of western Massachusetts report that they have received promised $ 600 deposits from the Treasury Department. The IRS and the Treasury began sending electronic payments last week as part of the country’s second round of direct payments as a measure of relief from the pandemic. The first to receive checks: those who received a direct payment last spring. Paper checks are also being processed, the IRS said. People who received checks last year don’t have to do anything to qualify for new payments.
LONG TERM CARE WATCH: As of Sunday, 31,022 cases have been confirmed among residents and employees of long-term care institutions, an increase of 89. In all, 416 institutions have had at least one confirmed case and recorded 7,428 COVID-19-related deaths, 27 more than in the past. Saturday.
HOSPITAL CHECK: Across the state, 2,291 people are hospitalized. Of those admitted, 416 are in the ICU and 258 in ventilators. Berkshire Medical Center does not update its patient numbers over the weekend.
To date, at least 11,046,093 tests for the virus have been carried out in Massachusetts, according to Johns Hopkins.
WIDER WORLD OF COVID: Global cases reach 84,980,767, with 1,841,044 deaths, according to data provided by Johns Hopkins University. The US saw 20,573,505 cases and 351,277 deaths.
MAIN INDICATORS: DPH provides the following statistics as indicators in the fight against coronavirus infection. Each provides a number and then a percentage change from the “lowest observed value”. Sunday numbers:
– Seven-day average of new confirmed cases: 3,621, up to 2,210 percent
– Seven-day weighted average positive test rate: 8.4, up to 993 percent
– Seven-day average of the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals: 2,273, an increase of 1,364 percent
– Seven-day average of deaths from COVID-19: 58, up 450 percent
EVERETT MASKS UP: The city of Everett ended the year by sending reusable masks to residents, for obvious reasons. The correspondence also provided a link to resources on the pandemic. The masks are marked with the letter “E”, a little civic pride there, as well as a QRC code that, when scanned, takes people to the COVID-19 resources section of the city website, reports the State House News Service . “It is important that we are all safe during these times of uncertainty,” said Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria. “We need to continue to fight this virus and stay safe.”
TEST INFORMATION: Stop the Spread test sites are now open at three Berkshire Health Systems sites. The tests will be carried out for any reason, with the state paying for the costs. To schedule a test, call the toll-free hotline 855-262-5465 from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm daily. (It will not work on December 24, December 25 or December 31)
The locations are: Pittsfield, 505 East St., St Luke’s Square, adjacent to the BHS Urgent Care Center; North Adams, 98 Church St., next to the city library; Great Barrington: 475 Main St.
Tests can also be obtained through CVS by filling an online form.
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