Pittsfield COVID-19 Cases Wane But Still Not 'Out of The Woods'
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — COVID-19 cases are declining in the city but it remains in the "red zone."
"While we're going down on the numbers, we're still not where we want to be,” Director of Public Health Andy Cambi said to the Board of Health on Wednesday.
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 entered the red incidence rate for transmission in April 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 and having a five percent or higher positivity rate in a 14-day period.
Berkshire Medical Center currently has six patients who tested positive while there were more than 20 early last month.
There are an estimated 137 actively contagious people this week, down from 376 in mid-May.
Cambi reported that many residents came to the Health Department early last month for free testing kits. With summer vacation soon approaching, the city is providing test kits to its camps and ordering more from the state.
They have also been provided to Pittsfield schools.
Because the at-home tests aren't in the city’s database, Biobot sewage testing was identified as an important tool for having accurate case counts.
Last Tuesday, the testing showed a 7-day average virus concentration of 762.4 copies per liter, down from 1 million in mid-May.
Cambi advised that residents take precautions where they see fit.
"I guess the point is if you're watching this tonight, stay vigilant, we’re not out of the woods,” Chair Bobbie Orsi said to residents who may be watching the meeting on Pittsfield Community Television (PCTV.)
Cambi also reported that the Pittsfield Health Department received Dowtown Pittsfield Inc.’s Community Award for its initial response to the pandemic.
On May 26, the Health Department and Berkshire Health Systems were given the award on Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Stage. Cambi accepted the award for his department and Dr. James Lederer accepted it for BHS.
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