Pittsfield Sees COVID Spike in Sewage Testing, Another Death

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Sewage testing is showing a post-holiday COVID-19 spike.

On 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. 

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi has indicated that the sewage concentration is the most accurate indicator of the virus' presence in the community because the other metrics don't include at-home tests.

There was also another death that occurred in late December, bringing the city's total to 92.

Hospitalizations have remained low, as there were fewer than 10 COVID patients at Berkshire Medical Center earlier in the week.


Pittsfield saw 32.5 cases per 100,000 people on Tuesday and the positivity rate was 12.1 percent.  There are about 76 estimated actively contagious cases, a metric that has gone down from over 100 at the beginning of the year.

The city remains in the red incidence rate for having more than 10 average cases per 100,000 population and a positivity rate above 5 percent. It has essentially been in this category since last year with some reprieve in the spring that put the city in the lesser "yellow zone."

Before Thanksgiving, there was a low of around 470,000 copies per liter, a percent positivity rate of 5.4 percent, and 13.6 cases per 100,000.

For Berkshire County, there is a 7-day average of 33 cases. The state's 7-day average is nearly 1,600.


Tags: COVID-19,   


More Coronavirus Updates

Keep up to date on the latest COVID-19 news:


If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

Pittsfield Firefighters Knock Down Morningside Blaze

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Fire Department knocked down a two-alarm blaze in the Morningside neighborhood in less than an hour on Friday. 

Just before 3 p.m., the department received a report of a fire at 25 Pine St. Deputy Fire Chief Daniel Garner said he arrived at the scene first and saw heavy fire showing from the rear of the more than 100-year-old home. 

"We just went to work, pretty much," he explained. 

"Because of the heavy volume of fire and the potential for a high number of occupants, I called a double alarm, which called all available Pittsfield firefighters directly to the scene. And I would say the fire was knocked down and under control within an hour." 

Eight occupants were evacuating the home when firefighters arrived, and there were no civilian or firefighter injuries. People, including the occupants, stood on the sidewalk and watched the scene unfold. 

When iBerkshires arrived, firefighters were on the ladder, extinguishing the top level of the home from the side and rear.  

There were five fire engines and one ladder truck. Hinsdale also came to assist, and Lenox and Dalton were called for standby. 

Garner believes the building is salvageable and repairable, but recognized that the family won't be able to stay there tonight. An extended family appears to live in the home. 

The cause of the fire has not yet been determined; the Fire Investigation Division was on site. The Red Cross will provide assistance to the residents of the home. 

View Full Story

More Pittsfield Stories