The COVID 19 winter surge may be slowing down in East Boston. With nearly 4 out of every 10 residents tested for the virus last week still turning out to be positive, the weekly positive test rate here and citywide declined for the first time in weeks. Deaths from the virus, which were rising at an alarming rate, have decreased dramatically last week.
Last week, 3,799 Eastie residents were tested for the virus last week and 37.8 percent were positive–this was a 0.26 percent decrease from the 37.9 percent that tested positive as reported by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) on January 10. The weekly positive test rate has now increased 76 percent in Eastie since January 3 and looks like it has leveled off a bit.
One thousand four hundred thirty six additional Eastie residents contracted the virus between January 10 and January 17 there are now 12,790 confirmed cases in the neighborhood since the start of the pandemic.
The citywide weekly positive test rate also decreased last week. According to the BPHC 47,102 residents were tested and 31.6 percent were COVID positive–this was a 1 percent decrease from the 31.9 percent that reportedly tested positive for the week ending on January 10. The weekly positive test rate has increased 74 percent in Boston since January 3.
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 6 percent last week and went from 133,501 cases to 141,491 confirmed cases in a week. There were 19 additional deaths in Boston from the virus in the past week and the total COVID deaths is now at 1,554. Deaths, which were up 257 percent two weeks ago, decreased 24 percent last week.