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Massachusetts sets new one-day Covid-19 case record; Deer Island data suggest more to come
By adamg on Thu, 12/23/2021 - 6:59pm
Viral particles at Deer Island treatment plant way up, can predict future spikes. Source.
The state Department of Public Health today reported 9,042 confirmed new Covid-19 cases, eclipsing the previous high of 9,031 on Jan. 4, during last winter's surge.
The state reported 1,632 people with Covid-19 cases in hospitals, up from 1,621 the day before. The state also reported 47 confirmed Covid-19 deaths, up from 33 the day before, although the death number fluctuates from day to day - although it is still up consistently from summer lows.
The data from the Deer Island sewage plant, which handles sewage from much of the Boston area, suggests we will see rising number for at least the next 7 to 10 days - on the theory that many people start excreting the virus before they realize they are sick or should get tested.
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Comments
Reported cases are also an Under-Count
Between asymptomatic people who don't test at all, and people who test at home, the DPH reported case numbers are likely significantly below the actual count.
Once upon a time, the CDC (under Trump no less!) advised shutdowns when test positivity rates in an area rose above 5%. The Massachusetts 7-day weighted average test positivity is at 7.60% today - it peaked at 8.67% during last winter's surge, when there were no vaccines available to the public. Last year on December 23, we were at 6.21%.
In other words: there's a tsunami of cases coming, and Baker is whistling past the graveyard.
If only we had a way to handle this?
Like, if being vaccinated helps when exposed to Covid?
.
.
Still haven't beat that February wastewater high score
although it does seem like that might have been an aberration.
EDIT: Spoke too soon!
The sewer Oracle has spoken.
The sewer Oracle has spoken.
Remember that Covid exposure phone notification thingy?
The one that came out in like June when everyone had just gotten vaxxed and their were only 75 cases per day and virtually no one signed up for? Maybe Baker et. al should have renewed efforts to get more buy in before the holidays + omicron hit.
It’s not a substitute for testing, but with long testing lines and scarce at-home tests it might be useful.
That’s the biggest issue right now
Lack of available testing. The Biden admin had the opportunity to purchase 735m tests in October and chose not too.
Anyone with a brain new case would increase come winter. Outside of vaccine availability, it feels like we’re back in 2020.
actually
I got an alert to enable the built in iphone one yesterday.
I signed up.
I signed up.
My phone alerted buzzed yesterday- the 1st time that's ever happened!
9 days ago (my. Phone) was a close contact of someone who had recently tested +ve.
Bugger!!
Took a test before visiting family, -ve...
Piece of mind, priceless
THere in Boston, they will
THere in Boston, they will address this heads on a week or so after the inauguration ball.
"We"?
But you're not in Boston
Edit: I am noting my edit, which is to say that you did not note yours. Your original comment said "we", not "they".
So what is the progress of
So what is the progress of the life sciences studies on why this virus is winning? There's plenty of real estate gobbled up by it.
What is the virus winning?
The virus is just doing what viruses do - something called natural selection.
We win if we are fully vaccinated.
You do realize that there are numerous other coronaviruses in the wild, four of which are part of the group known as the common cold? They got that way somehow.