COVID cases among Massachusetts students rose by almost 44% in past week

Coronavirus instances at Massachusetts public faculties rose for the fifth consecutive week, reflecting the heightened unfold of the extremely contagious omicron subvariant simply as individuals collect for holidays this weekend, in addition to the Boston Marathon on Monday.

The variety of COVID-19 infections amongst college students elevated by practically 44% within the newest official report launched Thursday by the Massachusetts Division of Elementary and Secondary Schooling. From April 7-13, officers say 4,000 college students examined optimistic for the virus, in comparison with 2,782 within the week prior.

In the meantime, coronavirus instances amongst employees members climbed by 39% within the new report. From April 7013, there have been 1,363 infections amongst employees, in comparison with 984 within the week prior.

With about 920,000 college students enrolled and roughly 140,000 employees members working in public college buildings, the speed of COVID instances presently stands at 0.43% amongst college students and 0.97% amongst staffers, in accordance with DESE.

To date this college yr, the pooled COVID testing positivity price stands at 3.88%, in accordance with DESE’s report. From April 4-10, the speed was 1.88%.

Thirty-three college districts reported 20 to 29 college students examined optimistic for COVID in Thursday’s report: Narragansett, Northboro-Southboro, Dracut, Hopkinton, Melrose, Wakefield, Chelmsford, Haverhill Medfield, Methuen, Woburn, Gardner, Lowell, North Attleborough, Tewksbury, Westborough, Belmont, Brockton, Northampton, Attleboro Harmony, Southborough, Bedford, Northborough, Groton-Dunstable, Easthampton, Revere, Hamilton-Wenham, Wachusett, Leominster Studying, Sudbury and Swampscott.

Seventeen college districts reported 30 to 39 college students examined optimistic for COVID: Westford, South Hadley, Walpole, Amherst-Pelham Beverly, Triton, Billerica, Medford, Somerville, Wayland, Needham Braintree, Framingham, Medway, Quincy, Ashland and Weymouth.

5 college districts reported 40 to 49 college students examined optimistic for COVID: Dedham, Holliston, Cambridge, Acton-Boxborough and Worcester.

4 college districts reported 50 to 59 college students examined optimistic for COVID: Waltham, Natick, Shrewsbury and Springfield.

Two college districts reported 60 to 69 college students examined optimistic for COVID: Andover and Lexington.

The 5 college districts with the very best COVID ranges had been Weston at 72 instances, Brookline at 86 instances, Wellesley at 90 instances, Newton at 93 instances and Boston at 242 instances.

As COVID numbers slowly climb, the volumes are nonetheless nicely under figures noticed in January throughout the peak of the omicron surge. From Jan. 6-12, for instance, DESE reported 41,063 instances amongst college students and seven,351 instances amongst employees members.

As college students head into spring break subsequent week, the Baker administration introduced new family-friendly COVID-19 vaccine clinics — that includes reward playing cards and prizes — at 10 municipalities all through Massachusetts. The objective is to ameliorate persistent vaccine disparities in communities which were disproportionately impacted by the pandemic.

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