Reported coronavirus cases continue to drop in Attleboro area and across the state – The Sun Chronicle

Reported coronavirus cases decreased statewide and locally in the week ending Feb. 3.

Statewide, the number of reported cases went down to 2,792 from 3,192, a decrease of 400 cases. Thats a percentage decrease of 12.53%.

Locally, the number of reported cases went down to 66 from 87 in the week ending Jan. 27. Thats a decrease of 21, or 24.13%.

Overall, cases have dropped four consecutive weeks statewide, from 4,999 to 2,207 cases, which is a percentage drop of 44.14%.

Locally, the cases have fallen for four consecutive weeks, from 125 to 66, or a drop or 59 cases, which is a percentage decrease of 47.20%.

There were 552 coronavirus tests administered by health officials in the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle with 66 positives, which is a percentage rate of 11.49%. Thats a decrease of 58 tests, which equals 9.5%

The communities covered are: Attleboro, Foxboro, Mansfield, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Wrentham.

The number of reported COVID-19 cases is not accurate, however, and the figure is surely higher because of the prevalence of home-testing kits. Not all the positive cases found through home-testing are reported to health officials. Also, many people who become ill dont bother testing as the virus has weakened and the symptoms caused by the virus are less severe.

For context, the highest number of new cases statewide for one week was recorded on Jan. 14, 2022, at 132,557.

The highest number locally for one week was 3,463, recorded on Jan. 13, 2022.

All told, since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the area has recorded 50,493 cases.

In the week ending Feb. 3 the case counts in the communities were:

Statewide, the number was 2,792 confirmed cases with 695 probable cases for a total statewide of 2,136,756 confirmed and probable cases since the pandemic began in March 2020.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide increased to 37, from the 29 recorded in the week ending Jan. 27, and the number of probable deaths fell to 0 from the two recorded in the week ending Jan. 27.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 is 23,329, and the number of confirmed and probable deaths is 27,888.

A poll for the area was taken recently and the death total, with nine communities reporting, was 518.

Deaths caused by the virus, per community covered by The Sun Chronicle, are:

Most of the deaths were suffered by the elderly.

The average age of death caused by the virus is about 80, according to the states Department of Public Health.

Theres a new variant which is causing many of the cases known as JN.1. As of Feb. 3, JN.1 is estimated to account for approximately 91% to 94% of all currently circulating coronavirus variants, an increase from the estimated prevalence of 83% to 88% two weeks ago, according to the CDC.

JN.1 remains at high prevalence among variants in international travelers and wastewater viral levels, as well as in most regions around the globe. At this time, there is no evidence that JN.1 causes more severe disease.

Approximately 12.5% of all emergencydepartment visits in Massachusetts were due to acute respiratory disease including coronavirus, flu and respiratory syntactical virus (RSV).

There have been 100 deaths due to the flu this season 2023-2024.

Most hospitals and health clinics in Massachusetts and Rhode Island including Sturdy Memorial Hospital and all Sturdy Health facilities have re-instituted mask mandates in an effort to help keep the spread of COVID-19, the flu and other winter respiratory illnesses, down.

George W. Rhodes can be reached at 508-236-0432.

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Reported coronavirus cases continue to drop in Attleboro area and across the state - The Sun Chronicle