Slow decrease in weekly covid-19 case totals continues

Feb 4, 2021

The town continued its downward trend in weekly total cases of covid-19, according to the state’s Feb. 4 Weekly Public Health Report.

There were 62 new cases reported in the past week, down from 70 new cases reported the week before.

Wareham’s average daily incidence rate increased to 37.5 cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days. Given Wareham’s population, this means there were about 8.63 new cases each day over the past two weeks.

Wareham has also seen a percent positivity rate — or the percentage of covid-19 tests performed that come back positive — of 5.27 percent over the last 14 days. 

At the Board of Selectmen meeting on Feb. 2, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan said that while cases are down a bit, the town reported four deaths last week.

“We’ve got these mutant variants of the strain that are apparently much more contagious than the original strain,” Selectman Peter Teitelbaum said. “Please, don’t get complacent now. You’re close to the finish line; just keep it up for a few more months.”

A week ago, the state’s public health report indicated Wareham was seeing roughly 10.19 new cases each day and had a percent positivity rate of 6.62 percent. Based on the state report, the town’s numbers are continuing to move in the right direction. 

Wareham is still classified “red” per the state’s guidelines — the same category the town has fallen into since Dec. 3.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,198 coronavirus cases in Wareham.

As of Feb. 1, Wareham Public Schools reported three students and three employees who had tested positive for covid-19, along with 36 students and six employees currently quarantined.