Last week the cumulative COVID-19 positive test rate in Eastie stayed the same as did the weekly positive test–signaling a hopeful trend for a neighborhood devastated by the virus.
According to the latest data released by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), of the 35,022 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, 2,031 Eastie residents were tested for the virus last week and only 4.8 percent were positive. Again, this was the same positive test rate reported two weeks ago.
Citywide, 29,757 residents were tested and 3.8 percent were COVID positive–a 21 percent decrease from the 4.8 percent testing positive two weeks ago.
At at press briefing last Thursday Mayor Martin Walsh said the average number of positive tests recorded each day was 209. That’s down by about 13 percent from the week before, and daily new cases have continued to go down since early January.
“Our current community positivity rate was 4.8 percent,” said Walsh. “That’s below our 5 percent threshold, and the lowest positivity we’ve seen since October. The rate went down in every neighborhood, and every neighborhood is now below 8 percent, which is good news. An average of 4,263 people were tested each day. That’s up by three percent over the week before and does not include college testing.”
The Mayor said Boston continues to work with the State on the vaccine rollout.
“On Wednesday, the Governor announced that, as of February 18, anyone 65 or older, or who has two or more qualifying medical conditions, is now eligible for the vaccine,” said Walsh.
The Mayor noted that moderate and severe asthma are now included in that list of conditions, which is a good thing.
“This was an important decision, to ensure that more residents of color who face elevated risk are eligible sooner,” said Walsh. “In addition, everyone in Phase 1 continues to be eligible if you have not been vaccinated yet — including health care workers, first responders, and residents and staff in long-term care and congregate care settings.”
The full updated schedule is at Mass.gov/CovidVaccine.
Walsh said the City of Boston will continue to advocate on behalf of Boston residents, and increase equity in this process for any resident or community that may face barriers. He said the City is focusing on access in the Black community; the Latino community; the Asian community; and our immigrant communities.
“We’re also focusing on access for elderly residents and those with disabilities,” he said. “We’re doing targeted outreach to these communities through City departments, Community Health Centers, and nonprofit partners.”
Eastie’s COVID infection rate increased only by 1.45 percent last week and went from 1,395.5 cases per 10,000 residents to 1,415.8 cases per 10,000 residents. The citywide average is 839.4 cases per 10,000 residents.
An additional 95 Eastie residents contracted the virus and there are now 6,644 confirmed cases, up from the 6,549 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 2.8 percent percent last week and went from 56,079 cases to 57,675 confirmed cases in a week. Thirty-four additional Boston residents died from the virus last week and there are now 1,248 total deaths in the city from COVID.