 Williamstown Health Inspector Updates Board of Health on TrainingThe town's health inspector Monday updated the Board of Health on training she has been receiving since taking the position in November.  CHP Readying for New Covid-19 Vaccine SupplyCHP anticipates receiving its Covid-19 vaccines in the coming weeks, while flu clinics are well under way.  COVID-19 Cases ClimbingCOVID-19 has been making a resurgence around the state.  Pittsfield to Shut Down COVID-19 DashboardIn alignment with this announcement, the City of Pittsfield will be shutting down the COVID-19 dashboard on the city's website. BHS Relaxing COVID-19 Infection Control GuidelineBHS is relaxing many of its COVID-19 infection control guidelines effective Thursday, May 11, 2023. FEMA Awards Over $2M to Mass for COVID-19 Hospital StaffingThe $2,079,767 Public Assistance grant will reimburse the Massachusetts Department of Public Health for the cost of contracting for medical and nursing staff to support the state-run medical facilities between April 2020 and July 2021. FEMA Awards Nearly $1.4 M to BMC for COVID-19 Testing CostsThe hospital also purchased supplies such as lab coats, masks, gloves, and propane for the testing tent, and contracted to provide security and cleaning services. Governor Announces End of COVID-19 Public Health EmergencyThe announcement this week, ahead of the 45-day notice required by state law, allows additional time for impacted organizations to prepare for the end of the public health emergency. Pittsfield Health Board Talks Nationwide Effort to End the COVID EmergencyPublic Health Nurse Patricia Tremblay said that there is an expectation to hear a verdict in April and the city will continue to follow guidance from the Center for Disease Control and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Gift Cards Available in South County For Those Getting COVID BoosterAppointments are required and there are slots available most weekdays 10-4 and some Saturdays 9 to noon at the Tri Town Health office located in the Airoldi Building located at 45 Railroad Street in Lee. State Gets Millions for COVID-19 Testing CostsFEMA's Public Assistance program is a source of funding for states and communities recovering from a federally declared disaster or emergency. BHS Alters Days and Hours for COVID-19 Vaccine ClinicsEffective on Monday, Feb. 6, COVID vaccination will be available only two days per week in Pittsfield and one day per week in North Adams for adults, and a Pediatric vaccine clinic will be held on a Friday once each month in Pittsfield. Pittsfield Sees COVID Spike in Sewage Testing, Another DeathOn Tuesday, the city's virus concentration in sewage rose to 3 million copies per liter, compared to 1.3 million copies per liter on Christmas. Pittsfield COVID Rates Slightly Higher Than ThanksgivingThe city's Biobot sewage data showed a 1.1 million copies per liter virus concentration over the weekend, compared to the 1 million copies per liter concentration on Thanksgiving day. Bump in COVID-19 Cases Seen at Two County Nursing HomesAnd all but four people found positive at a South County facility are fully recovered, according to a spokesperson for Integritus Healthcare. Pittsfield COVID Rates Remain Low for ThanksgivingThe city for the most part remains on the downward trend from two fall COVID-19 surges as the region enters the Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Pittsfield Rebounds From COVID Surges in Time for ThanksgivingThe city is recovering from the two COVID-19 surges that occurred this fall and is on the low end of the red incidence rate. Berkshire Organizations Partner to Launch New Website to Help Grant SeekersBerkshire Regional Planning Commission and several partner agencies joined to form BFF in response to a need for a clearinghouse focused on the investment of COVID-19 recovery dollars into the region, to improve the well-being of community members Pittsfield Saw Two Mini-COVID Surges This FallHealth officials now say sewage testing is the truest indicator of the virus's impact on the community because it accounts for at-home tests. With Halloween Around the Corner, Pittsfield COVID Cases DecreaseOn Wednesday, the positivity rate was 10.4, there were 33.6 daily cases per 100,000 and 81 actively contagious cases. Adams Gets Another Shipment of COVID Tests, PPERhoads and Vice Chair Board Amy Oberlin said they distributed some tests at Ramblefest over the weekend. Several event-goers, they said, were interested. Pittsfield Experiencing Mini COVID SurgeOn Monday, the positivity rate was 9.8 percent and there were 41.6 daily cases per 100,000 people, compared to an 8 percent positivity rate and an average daily case rate of 28.6 one month ago.  New Bivalent COVID-19 Vaccine AvailableThe latest vaccine to combat COVID-19 is designed to provide protection from the BA.4 and BA.5 variants that currently make up the vast majority of novel coronavirus cases in the United States. Pittsfield COVID Cases Plateau, Cold Weather Spike ExpectedThe city's health director had good news on Wednesday, telling the Board of Health that COVID-19 cases have been plateauing for the last month after a small increase in July.  Baker: State Support There as Schools Address Learning LossWhile face coverings, social distancing, remote learning and "hybrid" schedules largely are a thing of the past, the education deficits created by the pandemic have been front of mind for school officials for more than two years. North Adams Students Return to School with Minimal COVID RestrictionsStudents in the North Adams Public Schools return to classes this week with minimal COVID-19 restrictions in place, as the district continues to follow public health guidance on the virus. Return to Normalcy Makes Pittsfield COVID Rates RiseDuring Tuesday's City Council meeting, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi compared metrics from this summer and last summer. Pittsfield Back in 'Yellow Zone' for COVID-19 TransmissionOn Tuesday, the percent positivity rate was 4.3, down from 5.3 last week. To be in the yellow zone, a community must have 10 or fewer average cases per 100,000 people or have a 5 percent or less positivity rate. BHS Providing COVD-19 Vaccine for Infants and ToddlersOn Saturday, July 2, the BHS Testing and Vaccine Center in Pittsfield will hold its monthly COVID vaccine clinic for children 5 to 11, running from 8:30 am to 4:00 pm. COVID-19 Vaccinations Now Available for Young ChildrenThe Baker-Polito administration expects there to be more than 400 locations for children to receive a vaccine in the coming weeks. Pittsfield COVID-19 Cases Continue to DeclineOn Sunday, the positivity rate for COVID-19 cases was 8.5, compared to 14.8 in mid-May, and Pittsfield saw 11 new cases. There were 41.9 cases per 100,000 people, compared to 133.3 in mid-May. Williamstown Health Board Again Advises Masks at Town MeetingAgainst a backdrop of declining local numbers for COVID-19, the board instead decided to continue its stance of strongly recommending masking in indoor spaces and reiterated the places where residents can obtain one. Pittsfield COVID-19 Cases Wane But Still Not 'Out of The Woods'A week ago, the percent positivity rate was 11.5, down from 14.7 in mid-May. The average case rate was 73.1 per 100,000 people, which is significantly less than the rate of 133.3 in mid-May.  Pittsfield COVID Cases, Hospitalizations Continue to RiseOn Sunday, the percent positivity rate was 16.6 percent and there were about 132 cases per 100,000 people. The positivity rate was 12.4 percent on the previous Sunday and there were 106 cases per 100,000 people. Pittsfield COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations RiseOn Sunday, the percent positivity rate was 10.8 and there were 106 cases per 100,000 people. This is a stark contrast to the positivity rate of 2.1 in late March, when there were only about 13 cases per 100,000 people. Senator Hinds Tests Positive for COVID-19The senator is reporting mild symptoms and is isolating according to U.S. Centers for Disease Control guidelines. According to a statement released Thursday afternoon, he is vaccinated and boosted. Pittsfield Back in Red Zone for COVID-19Pittsfield entered the red incidence rate for transmission on Friday when the positivity rate rose to 5.3 percent. This risk category is defined by having equal to or more than 10 average cases per 100,000 or having a five percent or higher positivity rate in a 14-day period. |
