Eastie experienced a 23 percent increase in COVID-19 positive test rates last week according to the latest data released by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) and is once again above 10 percent.
Last Friday the BPHC reported that of the 21,584 Eastie residents tested for COVID last week 11.1 percent were found to be positive for the virus, a 23 percent decrease from the nine percent reported two Fridays ago. Overall since the pandemic began 13.5 percent of Eastie residents here have been found to be positive.
The citywide positive test rate was down 8.9 percent and went from 7.8 percent of Boston residents testing positive for the virus to 7.1 percent last week.
Eastie’s infection rate rose by 7.8 percent according to the data released by the BPHC last Friday. Eastie’s COVID infection rate went from 579.8 cases per 10,000 residents to 625.4 cases per 10,000 residents. The citywide average is 317.8 cases per 10,000 residents and Eastie still has one of the highest infection rates in all of Boston.
So far 2,935 Eastie residents have contracted the virus.
The statistics released by the BPHC as part of its weekly COVID19 report breaks down the number of cases and infection rates in each neighborhood. It also breaks down the number of cases by age, gender and race.
Citywide positive cases of coronavirus increased 5.6 percent last week and went from 21,206 cases to 22,407 cases.
Thirteen more Boston residents died from the virus and there are now 884 total deaths in the city from COVID.
At his daily press briefing last week Mayor Martin Walsh reiterated that the citywide positive test rate fell to 7.1 percent for the week ending October 31, with both more tests taken and fewer positive results. He said that’s a good sign, but the city and residents still have a lot of work to do.
“We are still averaging more than 120 new cases per day and, in neighborhood data, East Boston, Dorchester, and Mattapan remain at or above 10 percent positivity.”
Since launching the city’s “Get the Test Boston” campaign Walsh said the city saw an 8 percent increase in the number of people being tested last week. He said that continuing to increase the number of people getting tested will make a big difference, moving forward, in the city’s ability to track and contain the virus. He thanked everyone who got tested for COVID-19 recently and encouraged others to do so.
“Our mobile testing sites are free and open to all, regardless of symptoms,” said Walsh. “Since we launched them in May, our mobile testing teams have administered nearly 14,000 tests across Roxbury, Allston, South Boston, Mattapan, East Boston, and Dorchester. This week and next week, they are in East Boston at Central Square Park and in Mattapan at Jubilee Christian Church.”
In collaboration with the East Boston Neighborhood Health Center, the free popup mobile testing site in Central Square will remain open through at least November 14. The hours there will be Tuesday-Friday 1:00 -5:30 p.m. and Saturday 10:00 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Residents must call to pre-register at 617-568-4500.
The Mayor asked everyone to keep wearing a face covering whenever they are outside the house; keep washing hands frequently with soap and warm water and wiping down frequently used objects and surfaces; and keep maintaining six feet of distance from others while avoiding parties and other gatherings.
He also asked all Bostonians to familiarize themselves with the new state advisories that went into effect Friday. They include wearing a face covering at all times in public places; a Stay At Home Advisory for 10pm to 5am; and a closing time for in-person businesses of 9:30pm.