Town sees 3 new covid cases as vaccination rate continues to lag

Jun 14, 2021

Continuing the trend of single-digit case counts, the town saw three new cases of covid-19 in the past week and has now been designated “gray” in the state’s covid-19 risk reporting — the lowest risk level.

According to data from the state’s June 10 Weekly Public Health Report, Wareham’s average daily incidence rate decreased to 3 cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days. Given Wareham’s population, this means there was fewer than one new case 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 1.47 percent over the last 14 days. 

A week ago, the state’s public health report indicated Wareham was seeing roughly 1.08 new cases each day and had a percent positivity rate of 1.62 percent. 

Prior to being reclassified “gray” on June 10, the town had been categorized “green” by the state since May 20. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,745 coronavirus cases in Wareham. On May 18, Town Administrator Derek Sullivan reported that since the beginning of the pandemic, 68 Wareham residents’ deaths were attributed to covid-19. 

As of June 14, Wareham Public Schools reported no students or staff members positive for covid-19 or quarantined.

Vaccines

Although Wareham has a covid-19 vaccine clinic, the town’s vaccination rate continues to lag behind some other Massachusetts communities. According to the state’s June 10 data, only 49 percent of Wareham residents have received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine. That amounts to just 11,928 people.

Of the 27 municipalities in the county, only Middleborough has a lower percentage of at least partially vaccinated individuals, at 48 percent. Every other municipality in Plymouth County reported that at least 51 percent or more of its population had received at least one dose of a covid-19 vaccine.

Southcoast Health operates a vaccine clinic at the town’s Multiservice Center. The vaccine supply is dependent on the state and could vary from week to week.

Those interested in getting vaccinated through Southcoast can now sign-up as slots are available, either through their MyChart account or at www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling/, which does not require a MyChart account.

Alternatively, Southcoast is offering walk-up vaccines at various locations. For times and locations of upcoming walk-up clinics, visit: https://www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccination/

Those eligible for the vaccine can find appointments at other providers around the state using the state’s website vaxfinder.mass.gov.