As of last night, the Southborough Board of Health is showing 6 residents in isolation for active cases of Covid-19. The total cases over the course of the pandemic is now 539. That’s 6 cases reported in 7 days and 12 in two weeks.
Last Thursday night’s report from the Mass Department of Public Health listed Southborough as having 8 cases in two weeks with the Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000 as 5.9 (lower than prior period) and the % of tests confirmed positive as 1.24% (also lower).* Click here for a reminder of where residents can get tested.
For details on the data I’ve been tracking from MassDPH and the Town, click on the graphs above and below.
As I’ve previously shared, as of last week, of the 80 cases since April 1st, less than 20% were fully vaccinated residents. Southborough’s Public Health Nurse was emphasizing that vaccinated residents with “breakthrough” infections weren’t experiencing severe symptoms.
As of last week’s vaccination report from MassDPH, 70 more residents were at least partially vaccinated since the prior week. 8,398 Southborough residents received at least one dose by August 10th.
87% of residents old enough to be eligible for shots are fully vaccinated, and another 8% are partially vaxxed. Vaccination curves had flattened out this summer, but there is a slight increase for teen vaccinations. About 99% of teens (ages 12-19) are now at least partially vaccinated and 88% fully vaxxed.**
More highlights by age group and gender are in charts below:
(For more details on those groups, plus race/ethnicity, click here.)
If you have yet to be vaccinated, you can click here for information on where to get a shot.
*The state’s report was based on tests taken in the 14 day period ending on the prior Saturday.
**Population figures are just estimates. I use demographics extrapolated from 2019 census data since the state’s population data was clearly outdated.
Looking at statistics from the last 2 weeks from the state:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting
Selecting “Patient” Breakdown” (its on the left hand navigation).
Looking the left-hand column titled “Age Groups”.
Changing the dropdown to “Death Rate per 100,000 for last 2 weeks”.
Sadly, I cannot post a graph. The data overwhelmingly shows Zero risk for people under 20 (0 per 1000000). It also shows minimal risk for people under 60 (less than 1 per 100000). The data is fairly low for those 60-80 and spikes for those over 80.
Why is the School District even talking about masks or social distancing? It will have zero positive effect, particularly at the high school level where 99% of teens have at least partial vaccination. It will have drastic, proven negative effects on the kids (emotionally, socially, learning).
Why not instead focus on measures to protect our seniors?
Death Rate isn’t the only concern. One serious concern is children with long-term health effects. Data on that is still being researched.
Here’s one concerning article: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7927578/
Here’s a more recent article that gives hope it won’t be a big issue – but the study predated the Delta variant spreading: https://time.com/6087379/children-long-haul-covid/
There are still questions that have some parents worried and I’m personally glad that we have a medical advisory team that I’m sure will be looking at the data as it emerges.
I totally agree. The other important fact (in addition to it not being ‘zero’ risk for any group) is that you can’t stop the spread unless you stop it across ALL groups. Sure, maybe a young person is at lesser risk, but if it keeps circulating in the younger population, it’s going to spread to other more vulnerable people.
My favorite (if somewhat crude) analogy is that saying it’s ok for covid to spread in some groups but not others is like saying it’s ok to have a peeing section in the pool.
Masking may slow the spread but it won’t stop it. The Ro of Delta is too high. Almost everyone is going to be exposed to the virus.
I agree that the 12 and under should wear masks until they can get vaccinated. The High School vaccination rate is high enough for masks to no longer be required. If 95%+ vaccination isn’t enough what is? Masking forever?
Do you realize what the vaccinated teens have been doing all summer? They have been hanging out in each others houses, going to the mall, going to restaurants, playing sports etc, all unmasked. I know this because this is what my son has been doing.
“Some parents are worried” really? At the High School half of them couldn’t be bothered to use the free weekly tests when we didn’t even have a vaccine!