Pittsfield Remains High Risk for COVID-19 Transmission

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — 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.

There was a drop of cases in mid-December, but toward the end of the month, Pittsfield was back on an upward trend. Tyer said the city is in much worse circumstances than at the beginning of the pandemic in March, April, and May.

"Right now, we remain a red community that's designated by the state, in a meaning that we are a high risk of transmission community," Tyer said. "And until we can see significant improvement in our case counts and positivity rate we won't be able to reopen our schools and I continue to be extremely concerned about the situation that continues to emerge at our long term care facilities."

At the first City Council meeting of 2021, Tyer gave a COVID-19 update from Pittsfield's administration.

Over the last 14 days, the case count per 100,000 people is 63 with the positivity rate hovering around 6.05 percent. As of Tuesday, there are 17 new cases and 59 people hospitalized with the virus, seven of them being in intensive care.

The city has seen a very steep increase in cases over the last five days; last week there were 200 new cases in a five-day period. Tyer said much depends on the decline of case counts and positivity rate.

The administration is monitoring how many tests are administered per day. As Pittsfield moves through late fall and early winter, changes in tests administered per day have increased significantly.

Pittsfield ZBA Member Recognized for 40 Years of Service

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
12:23PM / Thursday, April 25, 2024

Albert Ingegni III tells the council about how his father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo who died at age 94 in 2020, enjoyed his many years serving the city and told Ingegni to do the same. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — It's not every day that a citizen is recognized for decades of service to a local board — except for Tuesday.

Albert Ingegni III was applauded for four decades of service on the Zoning Board of Appeals during City Council. Mayor Peter Marchetti presented him with a certificate of thanks for his commitment to the community.

"It's not every day that you get to stand before the City Council in honor of a Pittsfield citizen who has dedicated 40 years of his life serving on a board or commission," he said.

"As we say that, I know that there are many people that want to serve on boards and commissions and this office will take any resume that there is and evaluate each person but tonight, we're here to honor Albert Ingegni."

The honoree is currently chair of the ZBA, which handles applicants who are appealing a decision or asking for a variance.

Ingegni said he was thinking on the ride over about his late father-in-law, former Mayor Remo Del Gallo, who told him to "enjoy every moment of it because it goes really quickly."

"He was right," he said. "Thank you all."

The council accepted $18,000 from the state Department of Conservation and Recreation and a  $310,060 from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Safe Streets and Roads for All program.