| Positive | 166,026 |
| Berkshire County | 626 |
| Deaths Statewide | 8,547 |
| Berkshire County deaths | 46 |
| Total Tested | 1,353,299 |
Aug. 12: The state reported 18 new deaths and 229 new cases. The new reporting dashboard instituted today no longer provides daily numbers for counties; this will now be once a week.
One significant improvement is an update on the six criteria for the reopening plans for the first time since they were implemented on June 5: Contact tracing capabilities was upgraded from "in progress" to "positive trend." It joins testing capicity, COVID-19 positive test rate and number of hospitalized. Still considered in progress are deaths and health-care system readiness.
The seven-day average for positive tests has also taken a nosedive after drifting into the 2-2.2 percent more than a week ago. On Wednesday, the rate had dropped to 1.5 percent; the number of tests was more than 15,000.
Aug. 11: The state instituted a new mapping system to designate municipal hotspots with metrics based on the numbers per 100,000 population. The designates run from white (less than 5 cases total) to red (more than 8 cases). These metrics were also provided to school districts for use in determining reopening options.
Berkshire County is white with the exception of Pittsfield, which has less than 4 cases per 100,000 and is set for green.
The number of deaths statewide was 10 and the number of new positive cases, 296. The number of positives in Berkshire County was reduced by one, with no explanation.
Aug. 10: After a rise in the number of COVID-19 cases in late July and last week, the numbers appear to be declining again. The seven-day average has dipped below 2 percent (1.8 percent) and the number of positive cases was recorded is 214. There tends to be a delay in reporting over the weekend so this may change. The number of deaths was five and, for the first time, no hospital reported using surge capacity. The three-day average for hospitalizations has remained flat since July 24.
Aug. 9: The seven-day average of positive cases has remained below 2 percent for the third consecutive day; the number new cases was 286 and the number of deaths was 14. The number of positive cases in the United States passed 5 million.
Aug. 8: A dozen deaths were reported bringing the number to date to 8,500. While deaths remain low and hospitalizations fairly flat, the number of active cases remains higher than it had been in July. The seven-day average, however, has dropped over the last couple days to 1.8-1.9 percent.
Aug. 7: The number of deaths nationally passed 160,000 on Friday; the state reported 18 new deaths and a slightly lowered seven-day average in new cases. The increase in new cases over the past couple weeks, and reports of flagrant violations of pandemic protocols that include a wedding reception attended by 300 in Gardner, lead the governor to halt the next step in the state's reopening.
Outdoor gatherings have been scaled back from 100 to 50 and venues, private parties and bars trying to get around the protocols were put on notice that local enforcement could now impose fines. The state of Rhode Island this week was also removed from the states that did not require a two-week isolation, although those who travel regularly for work and education or transitory needs are exempt.
Aug. 6: There were 32 deaths reported today. There was a significant drop in positives — 162 reported — but it is not clear why.
Aug. 5: The state recorded only two deaths but the number of positive cases continues average more than 300. The seven-day average is again at 2.2 percent but hospitalizations have been fairly static since July 24, about the time positive cases began to rise.
Aug. 4: The state reported nine deaths and 438 new cases; the seven-day average of positive cases is now at 2.2 percent.
Aug. 3: The number of positive cases slipped below 200 on Monday, but this may be because of delays reporting over the weekend. The number of deaths was 10. The seven-day average for positive cases has been recalculated to 2 percent over the weekend after two delayed "dumps" of positive cases reported last week by larger health facilities; those cases were apportioned back to the days they should have been reported.
Aug. 2: The seven-day average of positive cases has ticked up to 2.2 percent after spending most of July below 2 percent. The number of deaths reported was 11.
Aug. 1: The number of deaths was reported as 17; the seven-day average of positive cases remains at 2.1 percent.
July 31: The seven-day average for positive cases has inched up to 21 percent. Gov. Baker on Friday blamed a number of breakouts caused by large gatherings and failure to abide by pandemic protocols. While he said commercial enterprises and residents by and large had been keeping to masking and social distancing, he did not rule having to pause the reopening if the numbers failed to improve.
The number of deaths was 14 but the positives reported was 387, which the governor said was because of a large hospital group delaying reporting.
July 30: Berkshire County recorded its first death since July 3, bringing the total to 46. There have been only three deaths since June 19. The total number of deaths reported today is 15; the seven-day positive test rate remains at 2 percent.
July 29: The number of deaths nationwide passed 150,000; in Massachusetts, 29 more deaths recorded to bring the count to 8,360. The number of positive cases in the Bay State continue to creep up with 356 confirmed and the seven day average now stands at 2 percent, after holding at 1.8-1.9 since July 8. Hospitalizations and deaths have been holding steady.
July 28: Fourteen deaths were reported and, for the first time in several days, the number of new confirmed cases dropped below 200. According to Johns Hopkins University, the number of confirmed cases in the United States is now 4.3 million, the highest in the world, and eight U.S. states are in the top 15 regions for COVID-19. Massachusetts ranks 22nd, behind California (2), Florida (3), New York (4), Texas (5), New Jersey (12), Illinois (13), Georgia (14) and Arizona (15). The top region is Sao Paulo, Brazil, with 487,654 confirmed cases. Of recorded deaths worldwide, 22 percent have so far been in the United States.
1) Wash your hands frequently
2) Cover sneezes and coughs
3) Avoid close contact with people if you or they are ill
4) Don't touch your eyes, face or mouth
5) Disinfect frequently touched surfaces
Health Secretary Marylou Sudders demonstrates the correct way to wash your hands.
Cancellations, Closures & Changes 😷
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
— Diana DiZoglio (@DianaDiZoglio) July 20, 2020
• 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.
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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.
Berkshire Health Systems also has page with upated information here.
Southwestern Vermont Medical Center
Southwestern Vermont Health Care has an information page with links to public health websites for area states.
The COVID-19 hotline is staffed weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. The number is 802-440-8844.
Communities
North Adams COVID-19 updates has links to information and to subscribe to a daily email update.
Pittsfield's COVID-19 page has links to a daily update page and to subscribe for alerts
Other Information Sites
Massachusetts Department of Public Health: 617-983-6800
Vermont Department of Health: 802-863-7240
New York Department of Health: 888-364-3065
New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services: call 603-271-4496 (after-hours 603-271-5300)
U.S. Centers for Disease Control has information and latest updates.
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