Charlestown’s Weekly COVID Positive Test Rate Decreases

Charlestown’s weekly COVID-19 positive test rate decreased last week while the cumulative rate increased slightly according to the latest data released on Friday by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC).

According to the BPHC report, last week 1,023 residents were tested and 3.4  percent were positive. This was a 12.8 percent decrease from the 3.9 percent that tested positive two Fridays ago.

According to the weekly report, of the 14,465 Charlestown residents tested for the virus since the pandemic began 8.8 percent were found to be positive by last Friday. This was a 2.3 percentage increase from the 8.6 percent reported by the BPHC two Fridays ago.

However, positive test rates continue to rise citywide. According to the BPHC ​​​​28,007 residents were tested and 5.2  percent were COVID positive–this was a 23.8 percent increase from the 4.2 percent positive test rate reported by the BPHC two weeks ago. This was the first time in weeks the city went above its 5 percent threshold used to plan Boston’s phased reopening strategies.

On Monday the Baker-Polito Administration announced that residents 55 and over and residents with one certain medical condition will be eligible for the COVID vaccine beginning on April 5.

In addition, the Administration announced that Massachusetts will adopt the CDC’s updated list of medical conditions. This week, the CDC added more medical conditions that are linked to an increased risk of severe illness from COVID-19. Massachusetts will adopt this guidance and make individuals eligible starting April 5th if they have one of these medical conditions. As a result of adopting the CDC’s list, more residents will be eligible starting April 5th.

The full list of conditions can be found at www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/need-extra-precautions/people-with-medical-conditions.html and the full timeline of the state’s vaccine rollout is available at mass.gov/COVIDVaccinePhases.

The infection rate in Charlestown and surrounding neighborhoods increased 3.2 percent in one week according to the latest city statistics.

The BPHC data released last Friday showed Charlestown’s infection went from 626.3cases per 10,000 residents to 646.4 cases per 10,000 residents.

An additional 39 residents became infected with the virus last week bringing the total to 1255 confirmed cases in the neighborhood.

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 3.1 percent  percent last week and went from    63,748 cases to 65,728 confirmed cases in a week. Fourteen additional Boston residents died from the virus last week and there are now 1,355 total deaths in the city from COVID.

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