Wareham sees uptick in covid-19 cases

The spread of coronavirus in Wareham seems to be on the rise once again, with 45 new covid-19 cases reported in town in the past week, according to the state’s April 1 Public Health Report. 

Wareham’s average daily incidence rate increased to 18 cases per 100,000 people in the past 14 days. Given Wareham’s population, this means there were about 4.14 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 4.13 percent over the last 14 days. 

A week ago, the state’s public health report indicated Wareham was seeing roughly 4 new cases each day and had a percent positivity rate of 3.95 percent.

Wareham is still classified “yellow” per the state’s guidelines — the same category the town has fallen into since Feb. 15.

Since the beginning of the pandemic, there have been 1,463 coronavirus cases in Wareham.

As of March 29, Wareham Public Schools reported two students and zero employees currently positive for covid-19, along with five students and two employees currently quarantined.

Vaccines

On Monday, April 5, two additional groups will become eligible for the vaccine: those who are 55 and older, and people 16 or older who have one certain medical condition. (See the list of eligible conditions here: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-vaccinations-for-individuals-with-certain-medical-conditions) 

Although not everyone is eligible to be vaccinated against covid-19 yet, all Massachusetts residents can now sign up to be notified when they become eligible to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site.

The state’s preregistration system launched on March 12, and Wareham residents can preregister at https://vaccinesignup.mass.gov/.

Anyone who cannot fill out the preregistration form online can ask a family member, companion or caregiver to fill it out, or call the state’s vaccination help line by dialing 211.

The online pre-registration form asks for various information including date of birth, address and preferred method of communication. It also asks for occupation and comorbidity information, which could affect how soon a person is eligible for the vaccine.

It takes less than five minutes to preregister. 

Preregistering does not prevent you from making an appointment to be vaccinated somewhere other than a state mass vaccination site if an alternative location can vaccinate you sooner.  

Vaccinations have resumed at the clinic being operated by Southcoast Health at the Gleason Family YMCA, though the vaccine supply is dependent on the state and could vary from week to week. 

Those interested in getting vaccinated at the YMCA 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.

Wareham’s Council on Aging staff has launched a hotline for residents who need help making a covid-19 vaccine appointment. Residents can dial 508-291-3100 Ext. 6530 from 8 a.m. until noon Monday through Friday and staff will assist with finding a mass vaccination site with openings and booking the appointment.