Last week the cumulative COVID-19 positive test rate in Eastie stayed the same while the weekly positive test rate decreased after experiencing a bit of a spike two weeks ago.
According to the latest data released by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), of the 36,660 Eastie residents tested for COVID since the pandemic began, 18.9 percent overall were found to be positive for the virus. This was the same percentage reported by the BPHC two weeks ago.
Last week, 1,841 Eastie residents were tested for the virus and 4.3 percent were positive–a 18.6 percent decrease from the 3.5 percent reported by the BPHC two weeks ago.
Citywide, 27,067 residents were tested and 3.6 percent were COVID positive–this was a 5.5 decrease from the 3.6 percent positive test rate reported by the BPHC two weeks ago.
In his last press briefing Friday before heading to Washington D.C. to serve as U.S. Secretary of Labor, former Mayor Martin Walsh said ICU occupancy has continued to go down and the case numbers have stayed below the city’s thresholds of concern for about a month now.
“We are ready to move forward in our reopening,” he said. Acting Mayor Kim Janey will now take over the reins and oversee Boston’s reopening process.
On Monday the state moved to Phase 4 Step 1 of the statewide reopening plan. This means that more activities and industries will be allowed to be open, and capacity limits for event venues and public settings will be expanded.
Boston, will move into a modified Phase 4 Step 1, consistent with the cautious approach the city has taken throughout the pandemic.
Starting on March 22, the State will allow indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas, and ballparks to open with a strict 12 percent capacity limit in place, after they submit a plan to the Department of Public Health. The City of Boston will align with this step.
“But, moving forward, we will only allow these venues to go above 12 percent capacity if the State allows it and if Boston’s positivity rate stays under 2.75 percent, for two consecutive weeks, as calculated by the City,” said Walsh. “We are also requiring these venues to submit their safety plan to the City’s Licensing Board.”
On March 22, the State will expand gathering limits for event venues and public settings to 100 people indoors and 150 people outdoors. The City of Boston will also increase gathering limits for event venues and public settings, but they will not be as high as the State’s limits. Boston will allow up to 60 people indoors and 100 people outdoors.
Under the State’s guidance, outdoor gathering limit at private residences will remain at a maximum of 25 people, and limits for indoor house gatherings will remain at 10 people. The same goes for the City of Boston.
Live musical performances will be allowed at restaurants in Boston. This includes all live entertainment except singing. Singing is still not allowed indoors because of the risk of spreading respiratory droplets.
All of this information will be posted in detail at Boston.gov/coronavirus.
Eastie’s COVID infection rate increased by only 1 percent last week and went from 1,462.4 cases per 10,000 residents to 1,477.4 cases per 10,000 residents. The citywide average is 905.3 cases per 10,000 residents.
An additional 70 Eastie residents contracted the virus and there are now 6,933 confirmed cases, up from the 6,863 reported two weeks ago.
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 1.8 percent percent last week and went from 61,025 cases to 62,170 confirmed cases in a week. Fourteen additional Boston residents died from the virus last week and there are now 1,327 total deaths in the city from COVID.