Massachusetts Data Update September 25, 2020

There is no good news in today’s report. The 7 day average percentage of positive cases for newly tested individuals hit 2.6% today, the highest level since June 14th.  This rate has been climbing for several days, after being below 2.0% from the end of June until the first week of September.  Repeat testers are now over 70% of those tested, and they continue to have a very low positivity rate of 0.2%.  However, the results for first-time testers are so bad that total test rate positivity hit 0.9% after being at 0.8% for over a week.

Hospitalization statistics are no better than the testing statistics.  The 7 day average of patients hospitalized is now at its highest level since mid-August.  The number of patients in the ICU is at its highest level since mid-to-late July, and the number of intubated patients is higher than at any point since late July.

Although I don’t think case statistics are the best way to measure progress against the pandemic, it is notable that the 7 day average of reported confirmed cases is at the highest level since early June.  And the death count marches onward, with little improvement in the number of deaths or the percentage of deaths in long-term care facilities.  In short, we’re heading backwards.