May 6: the state passed 650,000 in total cases on Thursday with a report of 1,004 bringing the count to date to 650,859. There were five more deaths bringing the toll to 17,311. The county reported 18 new cases, for a total of 6,393, and no deaths.
BMC reports five on precautions and the total hospitalizations statewide has dropped below 500 though 137 people are still in ICUs. The average age of hospitalizations is 60 and average age at death, 70.
The number of cases in those 70 and older has dropped below 500, and below 2,000 for 60 and older. There are currently 20,498 estimated active cases statewide. Pittsfield has only updated its dashboard as of Monday, May 3, to show 3,111 total cases and 52 active cases. There has not been a death in the Berkshires since April 15.
The seven-day average positive rate is 1.37 percent; the Berkshires 14-day average positive rate is 1.55 percent. More than 6.5 million residents have now had at least one dose of the vaccine.
May 4: The county reported 11 new cases, for a total of 6,359, and no deaths; the state had 718 new cases for a total of 648,967 and five deaths, for a total of 17,293. The seven-day average positive rate was 1.6 percent. National numbers now stand at 32,499,987 cases and 578,208 deaths.
May 3: Gov. Patrick on Monday announced that the state's vaccine dosage were expected to double and the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative opened three clinics this week to walk-ins. Some 6.3 million doses have been administered and 2.6 million adults are now fully vaccinated.
"This represents an incredible achievement that people in Massachusetts are outperforming the rest of the country by leaps and bounds," the governor said on Monday. "As a result, hospitalizations are down by 77 percent since Jan. 1, new positive cases are down by 82 percent since Jan. 1, and the most vulnerable residents in Massachusetts are protected from this terrible virus."
In comparison, the number of active cases was 79,261 on Jan. 3 and 23,676 on May 3. The number of cases for those 60 and older was 11,718 on Jan. 3 compared to 1,837 May 3. There were 2,291 patients and 416 in ICU at the beginning of the year; on May 3, hospitalizations stood at 522 with 133 in ICU.
The county recorded 10 new cases and the state 481 for totals of 6,348 and 648,249, respectively. The county had no deaths and the state 18, for a total of 17,288. The seven-day average positive rate is 1.49 percent, compared to 8.42 percent on Jan. 3.
May 2: The county had a total of 43 new cases over the weekend, 29 on Saturday and 14 on Sunday, for a total of 6,338. The state had a total of 1,901 for 647,768 cases to date. There were 11 deaths but none in the Berkshires.
As of last week, approximately 65,949 county residents have received at least one dose of vaccine; about 46,027 are fully vaccinated. The county has a population of about 124,944 so about 37 percent are now fully vaccinated.
April 30: more than 6 million of the state's 7 million residents, and those who may work or go to school here, have had at least one dose of vaccine. Some 2.5 million are now fully vaccinated.
The county recorded 19 new cases, for a total of 6,295, and the state 1,179, for a total of 645,867. There were no deaths in the county but 16 in the state for a total of 17,259. The seven-day positive average rate is 1.65 percent. National numbers are 32,337,011 cases and 575,845 deaths.
April 29: The county's two cities had the highest number of new cases over the past two weeks with North Adams reporting 49 and Pittsfield 140. Adams, the largest town, reported 25. However, Adams has dropped into the yellow category after four weeks in the red; Dalton, North Adams and Pittsfield are also yellow and all other communities are in the gray. Adams has a 14-day average positivity rate of 2.81 percent; Dalton 2.83; North Adams 2.55, and Pittsfield 3.19.
Florida and Otis both had high rates of 6.98 percent and 7.84 percent, but again this is a matter of low cases numbers/tests. Florida had fewer than five cases over the past two weeks for a total of 16 and Otis eight new cases for a total of 63.
As of April 24, North Adams reported a total of 556 cases; Pittsfield as of April 28 had 3,064 with about 60 active cases but about half its population vaccinated.
The county added 23 new cases (6,276) and the state 1,260 (644,688). The county had no deaths and the state 16 (17,243). The seven-day average positive rate is 1.63 and hospitalizations have dropped below 600. The average patient age is 61 and the age at death is 69.
April 28: the numbers went back up Wednesday with the county recording 27 (6,253) new cases and the state 1,392 (643,428). There have been no deaths reported in the Berkshires for 14 days. The state reported 12 (17,227).
The seven-day positive average rate remains at 1.71 percent; the county's 14-day average is now 1.59 percent. According to the weekly county report, the Berkshires saw 307 new cases over 14 days for a daily average of 17.3 per 100,000.
Phase 3, Step One of state reopening began on July 6.
Please assume that your local governmental offices, libraries and COAs are closed or operating under limited conditions. Use your town's official website for business or call to find out what precautions have been put in place. Always call ahead to ensure your destination is open.
July 21: Gov. Charlie Baker extended the pause on evictions and foreclosures for 60 days, until Oct. 17, 2020, through the authority granted to the governor by Chapter 65 of the Acts of 2020, An Act providing for a moratorium on evictions and foreclosures during the COVID-19 Emergency, which was signed into law on April 20, 2020.
It’s 5 o’clock somewhere because @MassGovernor just signed my cocktails to go bill into LAW. Thanks for supporting our local restaurants! https://t.co/YUwyANsVdl
• The Pittsfield RMV is appointment only for only critical services that cannot be done online or over the phone. Check the website for licenses and certificates that have been extended.
• Restaurants are open to outside dining and limited in-door dining; many are still offering takeout options. Bars are closed to on-premise consumption.
• Most performances, clubs, fundraisers still cannot be held.
• Indoor activities cannot exceed 25 people in a single enclosed, indoor space. This includes worship, movie theaters, museums and other cultural institutions.
• Fitness centers, health clubs, indoor recreational activities and personal services such as nail salons, barbers and hairdressers can open if abiding by masking, sanitation, social distancing and limited access.
• Most state programs are canceled and non-essential executive branch employees have been ordered to stay home.
• Banks are currently open for drive-up, online banking, ATMs; some lobbies began opening on July 6. Check with your bank.
• All groceries, pharmacies, department, convenience and other retail stores are open; masking and social distancing required.
• Child-care centers open only for essential personnel. Visitation at nursing homes and medical facilities have been broadened although anyone with symptoms of COVID-19 should avoid entering care facilities.
• Other services and organizations are mainly open for phone consultation and limited person-to-person contact.
What you can do
Take a walk or a bicycle ride. Spring clean. Call friends or Facetime. Get your garden ready. Check on folks who may need help. Watch a movie. Order from your favorite restaurants. Take a deep breath. Wash your hands.
Northern Berkshire COVID-19 Operations Center
Residents can call with questions at 413-662-3614, answered between 8 and 5 weekdays and voicemail for after hours, or use nbcovid@gmail.com.
Berkshire Medical Center
Toll-free hotline for questions staffed seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m: 1-855-BMC-LINK or 1-855-262-5465.
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State Launches Call Center for COVID-19 Vaccination Appointments Starting Friday, trained operators will be accessible by dialing 211 and choosing the option, "For help with scheduling a vaccine appointment," Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Friday morning.
Baker: No Apologies for Prioritizing Vulnerable Populations Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday once again defended his administration COVID-19 track record while saying that it has been open to responding to criticism throughout the pandemic.
Baker Lifts Stay-at-Home Order, Business Curfew But ending the "curfew" and early closure for businesses like restaurants and movie theaters is possible because the state's key COVID-19 indicators are improving, Baker said.
Baker Defends Phased Approach to Vaccine Distribution On the day that he announced the start next week of statewide distribution to residents and staff at congregate care facilities, Baker pushed back against the idea that "regular people" are being...
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Mass General Nurse: 'We Are Still in the Tunnel' Holiday gatherings were the focus of Tuesday's news conference, where Baker pleaded with Bay Staters to make sure the commonwealth does not see a repeat of the post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID-19...
BHS COVID-19 Test Centers Added to Stop the Spread Program Access to COVID-19 testing, either through the Stop the Spread program or for symptomatic testing, is by appointment only. Individuals MUST call the BHS COVID-19 Hotline, 855-BMC-LINK, or...
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Williamstown Board of Health Discusses COVID-19 Awareness Effort The Williams College Museum of Art, the college's Davis Center and '62 Center for Theatre and Dance are working with the town on an initiative to wrap bus stop shelters with public health messages to...
North Adams Schools Have Process for COVID-19 Exposures Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the School Committee on Tuesday that there was a process administrators looked at when considering responses to any exposures to the novel coronavirus.
Pittsfield Board of Health OKs Indoor Dining The Board of Health on Wednesday rescinded the ban imposed on Nov. 12 and issued new guidance that changes the maximum seating to six people per table from 10.
Baker: COVID-19 Vaccine Rollout to Begin This Month The governor said he anticipated that the focus would be on high-risk individuals as the vaccines are rolled out in December and the first part of the year.
Some Brayton Students Switch to Remote After Positive Case A letter from Superintendent Barbara Malkas said cleaning and disinfecting of exposed locations will be completed according to state and federal guidelines. All students and staff who were in contact...
Central Berkshire School Switch to Remote Learning A letter from school and public health officials released on Friday morning pointed to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and surrounding school districts that are going to remote learning status....
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Hoosac Valley District Reports First COVID-19 Case Superintendent Aaron Dean told the school committee Monday that earlier in the day he received an alert of the district's first case of COVID-19 that he said was an isolated case.
Pittsfield Seeing Spike in COVID-19 Cases Pittsfield health officials are attributing the rise in numbers mainly to large private gatherings, including house parties and group dining at restaurants.
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Gathering and occupancy limits will be loosened this summer, starting May 10, for ballparks, arenas, road races, tournaments, nightclubs and parades. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker on Thursday praised the work of the Berkshire County Regional Collaborative in helping the commonwealth be a leader in COVID-19 vaccinations nationwide. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday urged Bay State residents currently eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations to find appointments before eligibility opens up to everyone 16 and older later this month. click for more
The state has now administered at least one dose to 82 percent of residents age 75 and older and to 4 percent of Black residents and 16 percent of Hispanics, which the governor says leads the national average. More than 2.5 million have received a first dose.
click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker and Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Jeffrey Riley on Tuesday outlined a phased-in process that will begin with elementary students.
click for more
Berkshire County, which is operating three regional collaborative sites in Great Barrington, North Adams and Pittsfield, has the highest percentage in the state with 15 percent of the population having received their first dose. Barnstable is second at 14, and Franklin at 13.
click for more
Vaccination slots will open up Thursday for those age 65 and older and anyone age 16 and up who has at least two medical conditions.
This will expand access to the COVID-19 vaccine for another million residents — but the wait for an appointment may be long. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker made the announcement on Wednesday during a visit to the mass vaccination site at the DoubleTree Hotel. He said the move was being made to encourage older Bay Staters who might be hesitant to attend one of the sites, like the one at Eastfield Mall in Springfield.
click for more
Starting Friday, trained operators will be accessible by dialing 211 and choosing the option, "For help with scheduling a vaccine appointment," Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Friday morning.
click for more
Occupancy levels for restaurants will be raised to 40 percent beginning Monday, Feb. 8, but informal gathering limits will remain in place for now. click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday once again defended his administration COVID-19 track record while saying that it has been open to responding to criticism throughout the pandemic. click for more
Individuals 65 and older will be moved into the second priority group for Phase 2 of the state's vaccination plan, which is expected to begin on Monday, Feb. 1.
click for more
But ending the "curfew" and early closure for businesses like restaurants and movie theaters is possible because the state's key COVID-19 indicators are improving, Baker said. click for more
On the day that he announced the start next week of statewide distribution to residents and staff at congregate care facilities, Baker pushed back against the idea that "regular people" are being unfairly excluded in the commonwealth's phased approach to vaccinations.
click for more
Pittsfield remains a red-level community as the city struggles to recover from the spike of COVID-19 cases that occurred in early November. Over the last three days, case counts have plateaued and Mayor Linda Tyer hopes that this is the beginning of the decline. click for more
The Board of Health on Tuesday rejected the idea of putting further restrictions on local eateries despite a cluster of positive COVID-19 cases linked to restaurants. click for more
The governor is implementing tighter restrictions on gatherings, dropping capacity limits to 25 percent for businesses and industries and limiting indoor gatherings to no more than 10 and outdoor gatherings to 25.
The regulations go into effect on Saturday, Dec. 26, as the state attempts to... click for more
The hospitalist from Williamstown, Mass., was the first member of the staff at Southwestern Vermont Medical Center to receive the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine as the region officially began the next stage of society's battle against the global pandemic.
click for more
Hinds said when it was announced over the summer, the Berkshire delegation was upset to see that there were not any sites in Berkshire County. The closest site for asymptomatic testing for some time was Springfield.
click for more
Holiday gatherings were the focus of Tuesday's news conference, where Baker pleaded with Bay Staters to make sure the commonwealth does not see a repeat of the post-Thanksgiving spike in COVID-19 cases.
click for more
Access to COVID-19 testing, either through the Stop the Spread program or for symptomatic testing, is by appointment only. Individuals MUST call the BHS COVID-19 Hotline, 855-BMC-LINK, or 855-262-5465, which is available daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
click for more
The School Committee voted to anticipate a potential rise in COVID-19 cases because of holiday gatherings and close the school buildings from Jan. 4 to Jan. 18 next year. The district will return to hybrid learning on Tuesday, Jan. 19, the day after the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday.
click for more
Occupancy limits will be reduced to 40 percent and indoor performance venues and some indoor recreational activities will have to close. Dining indoors will be limited to six people per table for no more than 90 minutes. There will be heightened mask use and social distancing.
click for more
Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced new state COVID-19 testing sites in North Adams, Pittsfield and Great Barrington.
The sites are part of an expansion of state testing in four counties, three in Western Massachusetts: Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, as well as Barnstable on Cape Cod. click for more
The Williams College Museum of Art, the college's Davis Center and '62 Center for Theatre and Dance are working with the town on an initiative to wrap bus stop shelters with public health messages to fight the pandemic.
click for more
Superintendent Barbara Malkas told the School Committee on Tuesday that there was a process administrators looked at when considering responses to any exposures to the novel coronavirus.
click for more
The Board of Health on Wednesday rescinded the ban imposed on Nov. 12 and issued new guidance that changes the maximum seating to six people per table from 10.
click for more
The governor said he anticipated that the focus would be on high-risk individuals as the vaccines are rolled out in December and the first part of the year.
click for more
A letter from Superintendent Barbara Malkas said cleaning and disinfecting of exposed locations will be completed according to state and federal guidelines. All students and staff who were in contact with the infected individual have been notified through contact tracing.
click for more
Robert and Lauren Norcross, who have become involved in the Senior Center, objected that keeping the community/senior center closed was doing a disservice to the town's elderly.
click for more
A letter from school and public health officials released on Friday morning pointed to the rising number of COVID-19 cases and surrounding school districts that are going to remote learning status.
click for more
And Gov. Charlie Baker on Wednesday continued to caution Bay Staters about traveling or holding large gatherings for Thanksgiving — or thinking a negative test gives them enough security from transmitting the novel coronavirus in those settings. And he was struck by the number of people on news... click for more
And the doctor in charge of the operation wants all Bay Staters to know that they have the power to make sure more such facilities are not needed during Massachusetts' second wave of the novel coronavirus.
click for more
North Adams has remained in the lowest category with eight new cases in the past two weeks and six in the to weeks prior to that for a total of 75 to date. In contrast, the county logged 159 new cases in the past two weeks, the bulk of those in Pittsfield.
click for more
The School Department is not considering going back to remote learning despite the sharp rise in COVID-19 over the past few weeks. That includes two cases reported on Tuesday. click for more
Superintendent Aaron Dean told the school committee Monday that earlier in the day he received an alert of the district's first case of COVID-19 that he said was an isolated case. click for more
Pittsfield health officials are attributing the rise in numbers mainly to large private gatherings, including house parties and group dining at restaurants.
click for more
The Baker Administration is changing the way it decides how municipalities are categorized as red, yellow or green for COVID-19 transmission and continuing its push to have public schools prioritize in-person instruction.
click for more
The Select Board, in a brief emergency meeting on Tuesday morning, voted to keep the library, Town Hall and Community Center closed indefinitely effective Nov. 4.
click for more
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