Boston health officials urge COVID precautions during Memorial Day weekend, Massachusetts virus cases drop 22%

Boston well being officers are urging individuals to take COVID precautions throughout Memorial Day weekend, as virus transmission charges stay excessive within the metropolis and throughout the Bay State.

The Massachusetts Division of Public Well being on Wednesday reported 3,084 new COVID circumstances, down 22% from final Wednesday’s complete of three,948 infections, however the threat for COVID stays excessive forward of the vacation weekend stuffed with events.

In Boston, the group positivity fee is at 11% and the town is averaging 54.2 new COVID circumstances per 100,000 residents — a slight lower during the last two weeks because the wastewater knowledge additionally ticks down. Regardless of this promising signal, the elevated virus knowledge suggests the next probability of COVID transmission throughout giant gatherings this weekend.

“The start of summer time is an thrilling time and after two very troublesome years, everybody is keen to collect,” Bisola Ojikutu, government director of the Boston Public Well being Fee, stated on Wednesday. “Nonetheless, the chance of COVID-19 transmission is at present excessive.

“Put on a masks indoors, get examined, notably previous to gatherings, keep house if you’re unwell and attain out to your well being care supplier for therapy if you happen to take a look at constructive,” she added. “Take all the mandatory precautions, as a result of you may’t go to Crimson Sox video games, or go to the seashore, or host cookouts if you happen to’re sick with COVID-19.”

If individuals are seeing family and friends this weekend, they need to collect exterior as typically as attainable to cut back the chance of COVID transmission, the well being officers stated. Additionally, individuals ought to hold their home windows open for correct air flow.

Residents ought to take a look at for COVID earlier than and after attending gatherings, particularly if they are going to be round high-risk people — resembling seniors, those that are immunocompromised, and unvaccinated people.

Omicron subvariants have sparked a latest rise in COVID circumstances. The state’s common p.c positivity has jumped to eight.33%, considerably up from 1.6% two months in the past. The 8.33%, nonetheless, is down from 9.13% presently final week.

State well being officers on Wednesday reported 12 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s complete recorded dying toll to twenty,544. The every day common of COVID deaths is now 10. The dying fee had been a lot increased after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations decreased by 19 sufferers, the state’s general affected person depend is now 816 sufferers. Complete hospitalizations have been going up after the latest soar in infections.

Throughout the state, there are actually 77 coronavirus sufferers in intensive care models, and 37 sufferers are intubated.

Greater than 5.3 million individuals in Massachusetts are actually absolutely vaccinated, and greater than 3 million individuals have gotten a booster dose. Additionally, 455,024 extra booster doses have been administered.