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There are currently about 23 people hospitalized at Berkshire Medical Center, 3 being in the intensive care unit. On Christmas, there were 17 people in the hospital for COVID and the metric has increased since.

Pittsfield COVID Cases Increase After Holiday

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases following the Christmas weekend.

The average daily case rate per 100,000 people is 75.9 and the percent positivity rate is 6.4.  Pittsfield has remained in the red incidence rate since November.

On Christmas, the positivity rate was 5.4 and has increased since.  A week before the holiday, cases were close to where they are now with a positivity rate of 6.5.

There are currently 234 estimated actively contagious cases in the city and to date, there have been 82 deaths.

There are currently about 23 people hospitalized at Berkshire Medical Center, 3 being in the intensive care unit.  On Christmas, there were 17 people in the hospital for COVID and the metric has increased since.

A few days prior on December 22 there were 20 people hospitalized with the virus.

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi told iBerkshires that the COVID-19 task force met briefly about two weeks ago to discuss the iHealth Labs over-the-counter, at-home rapid antigen tests that the city received.

The tests are intended to be distributed to those who may not have the financial means to purchase home tests.



The task force first reconvened before Thanksgiving to discuss the city’s health data that pushed it into the red zone.  At the time, Pittsfield was at a 5.1 percent positivity rate, compared to the state's 3.28 percent, and a case rate of 52 per 100,000 people.

Tyer distributed a press release in response to the city reaching a higher risk incidence rate asking residents to participate in the fight against COVID-19 by continuing to wear masks, wash hands, social distance, and be mindful of gatherings with those outside of the household.

She also stressed the importance of keeping schools open.

Earlier that month, the Board of Health voted to implement a mask directive that states that masks should be worn in all publicly accessible indoor spaces in the city unless seated at a table eating food or drinking.

The directive suggests that if not abided by, a stricter directive with fines and license and permit suspensions could follow. The board avoided using the term "mandate" but the language makes clear the directive is not advisory although venue operators are "respectfully" asked to comply.

Currently, 72 percent of the city’s individuals are fully vaccinated and 83 percent have received at least one dose.

 


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Companion Corner: Fox at Berkshire Humane Society

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — There's a sweet and energetic dog at the Berkshire Humane Society waiting for his new family.

iBerkshire's Companion Corner is a weekly series spotlighting an animal in our local shelters that is ready to find a home.

Fox is a 3-year-old Pomeranian who has been at the shelter for about a month.

Canine caregiver and adoption counselor Simone Olivieri told us about Fox. 

"He's a bundle of joy. He would love a family who's home with him a lot, because he's just, he's very social and wants to be with his people a lot. And he would be fun to bring out and about, bring a lot of places, because he's very happy to go anywhere," she said.

When Fox enters the room he is immediately a puffball of energy that goes around and around the room.

He came to the shelter after his former owner could not take care of him anymore. 

"The owner was just not able to care for him anymore. Had he came in with another dog, Wolf, and she already did find her forever home just last week," said Olivieri. "The two of them were left with a friend of the original owner, and the owner did not come back to pick them up, and the friend had too many animals in the house, and too much going on, and she just couldn't continue to look after them, so they did end up coming to us."

Fox can go home with cats and children but is not recommended to go home with other dogs as he gets too excited.

"He would love a home where people are home quite a bit to give him all the attention that he so desires. He loves kids. He absolutely adores children. So he would like a home with kids to play with. He could live with cats. We are saying that he should not live with other dogs. The only reason is that he gets very humpy, and he does not leave the other dogs alone," she said.

With his energy it is recommended he goes to a home that can keep him active whether walks or hikes and even fetch in the yard.

Fox does need to learn more about walking on a leash and has a tendency to mark in the house but he was recently neutered. Olivieri said belly bands will be sent home with whoever adopts him to help prevent marking and managing it.

"He would like an active home. He really does like to go for walks daily. He likes to run around in the yard. He does need a little work on leash walking. He sometimes gets a little tangled still under your feet, and he's learning how to walk on a leash," she said. "So, someone who's got some patience and some time to work on some training with him."

"He also is not fully potty trained, so he does know to go potty outside. However, he will still mark, urinate in the house sometimes, and he might poop here and there in the house."

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