By Beth David, Editor
Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker announced that the state’s first mass COVID-19 vaccination site has opened at Gillette Stadium. The site is open for vaccinating people in the Phase 1 priority groups, which include healthcare workers and first responders.
To schedule an appointment, visit https://www.cic-health.com/vaccines
The site will eventually ramp up to 5,000 vaccinations a day.
Fenway Park will open as a second mass vaccination site beginning on February 1. It will administer 500 vaccines a day to people in the Phase 1 priority groups.
Walgreen’s and CVS pharmacies will also be able to administer the vaccines soon, but none are ready yet.
Visit https://www.mass.gov/where-can-i-get-the-covid-19-vaccine to find sites as they open.
Mass. has also announced its first cases of the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7. Scientists believe the variant is more contagious, but not more deadly, and the vaccine should provide the same amount of protection for the variant as the original virus.
According to a press release from the governor’s office on 1/17/21: “The public health risk reduction measures remain the same. Individuals must continue to wear masks or face coverings while out in public, maintain 6-foot social distancing, stay home when you are sick, and get tested if you have symptoms or are identified as a close contact.”
On 1/19, there were 2,567 new, confirmed cases reported, bringing the total to 454,102 total in Mass. There were 55,565 new tests, bringing the cumulative total to 12,454,145 tests. The state’s seven-day average positivity rate is 5.94%
As of 1/19, there were 2,213 patients hospitalized, 432 patients in Intensive Care Units, and 277 patients intubated.
Forty-vide new, confirmed deaths were reported on 1/19, bringing the total to 13,469 confirmed deaths in Mass. There have been 280 probably COVID deaths in total.
As of 1/12, Acushnet has a total case count of 808, with 241 reported in the last 14 days; and has a positivity rate of 14.37%
Fairhaven has a total of 1,326 cases, with 349 reported in the last 14 days, and a positivity rate of 12.86%.
Both towns are in the red zone on the state’s list.
To learn more visit https://www.mass.gov/
Nationwide, the US has 24,247,006 total cases as of 1/19, and 401,586 total deaths according the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center which publishes more updated information than the Centers for Disease Control. Globally, there have been 96,144,818 confirmed cases, and 2,056,300 deaths. Visit https://coronavirus.jhu.edu for more information.
Also visit the Centers for Disease Control website at https://www.cdc.gov
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