Pittsfield Experiencing Mini COVID Surge

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:00PM / Wednesday, October 12, 2022Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is experiencing a "mini" COVID-19 surge, Director of Public Health Andy Cambi confirmed on Tuesday.

"Pretty big news today," he said to the City Council. "For the COVID update for this month, [I'm] here to report that we are experiencing a mini-surge for our fall season with COVID cases."

On 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.

There are 103 estimated actively contagious cases in the city.

Pittsfield remains in the red incident rate, meaning that there are 10 or more average cases per 100,000 people and there is a 5 percent or larger positivity rate.

Cambi reported that the city has not exceeded 20 daily COVID hospitalizations, with about 18 last reported by Berkshire Health Systems, and is still "relatively low" with daily hospital services.

He explained that the biggest indicator of COVID's impact on the community is its Biobot wastewater testing, which is showing about 1.6 million copies per liter.

"I think it's important now that we kind of take a look at our virus concentration in sewage to get a community gauge of the impact that COVID is having on the season," Cambi said.

Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey pointed out that the sewage concentration is more than double what it was in May but there are half the cases.

Cambi confirmed that sewage testing is the best indicator, as it takes at-home tests into account, while the other metrics do not.

Kavey also asked for information on Bivalent booster and the public health director said there needs to be more community engagement statewide and locally for it, which is being worked on.

"We're actually possibly looking at getting the booster in-house, our public health nurse is working with the state to be offering that," Cambi reported. "So we might be able to do our own clinics, just the health department, small clinics. So that's also in the works."

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Scenic Vistas, Open Spaces Central to Berkshire's Rural Character

By John TownesSpecial to iBerkshires
05:19AM / Thursday, August 27, 2026

This is the first of a two-part series looking at types of land trusts, their missions and their place within the Berkshires.

Land is an essential resource for life. We all spend the vast majority of our lives directly connected to the land or in structures built on it. Land is also a central core of the global ecosystem that makes the earth sustainable for all lifeforms.

The landscape has special significance in the Berkshires. It is a central element in the region's scenic rural character and quality of life, as well an economic resource that is a basis of tourism.

Access to land, and control of its use, is largely based on ownership. This system enables people to own homes, build businesses, establish communities, and pursue other goals and activities.

However, the private use and control of land can also be a source of contention and conflict — from debates about development at local planning boards to international wars over territory.

Traditionally, local and regional planning policies and regulations such as zoning have been used to balance the concepts of private ownership with shared public goals and needs. In addition government ownership provides land for schools, roads, infrastructure, parks and nature preserves, and other public purposes.

In recent decades another form of land ownership and control has gained increasing visibility and prominence. This concept is often known as land trusts.

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