Weekly COVID Positive Test Rate Decreases in Eastie

Last week, the cumulative COVID-19 positive test rate in Eastie went up slightly while the weekly positive test rate dropped. 

According to the latest data released by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), Eastie residents testing positive for COVID last week increased 3.4 percent, but the weekly positive test rate decreased 10.6 percent. 

Of the 31,864 Eastie residents tested for COVID, 18 percent overall were found to be positive for the virus, a 3.4 percent increase from the 17.4 percent reported two Fridays ago.

However, 2,591 Eastie residents were tested and 10.1 percent were positive–a 10.6 percent decrease from the 11.3 that tested positive two Fridays ago.  

Citywide 50,439 residents were tested and 7.6  percent were COVID positive–a 14.6 percent decrease from the 8.9 percent testing positive two weeks ago. 

At a press briefing last week Mayor Martin Walsh reminded residents about extending Boston’s temporary pause on reopening, Last Tuesday the Mayor announced that he would extend the pause on Phase 3 of reopening for at least another three weeks, until January 27.

“This is an effort to slow the spread to protect hospital capacity and avoid a more severe shutdown later on,” said Walsh. “This is not about targeting specific sectors as the cause of viral spread, but instead, an effort to reduce overall activity happening outside people’s homes.”

Boston’s Office of Economic Development has been reaching out to different sectors to let them know about the extensions and answer any questions.

To find a complete list of industries and activities that will remain closed, and those that are allowed to stay open, visit Boston.gov/Reopening. 

Walsh said in another three weeks, the City will re-evaluate the situation. 

“If the metrics have moved in the right direction we’ll lift these restrictions,” said Walsh. “If the metrics get worse, we’ll have to put in place more restrictions.”

However, he added he is hopeful that he will be able to lift these restrictions, but he is taking a cautious approach and doing what he feels is right for Boston. 

Eastie’s infection rate rose by 5.9 percent according to the data released by the BPHC last Friday. Eastie’s COVID infection rate went from  1,172.6 cases per 10,000 residents to 1,242.1 cases per 10,000 residents. The citywide average is 694.3  cases per 10,000 residents. 

An additional 326 Eastie residents contracted the virus and there are now 5,829 confirmed cases, up from the 5,503 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 3.8 percent  percent last week and went from 45,844 cases to 47,607 confirmed cases in a week. Thirty more Boston residents died from the virus last week and there are now 1,082 total deaths in the city from COVID.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *