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Home / Latest / Weekly COVID-19 numbers from MA, update from LPS, winter storm expected tomorrow, & more | December 4, 2020

Weekly COVID-19 numbers from MA, update from LPS, winter storm expected tomorrow, & more | December 4, 2020

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LYNN NEWS ROUND-UP
DECEMBER 4, 2020

See our other COVID-19 related posts by clicking here.


The City of Lynn COVID-19 Testing sites at Lynn English High School and behind the Fire Station on Western Ave. will be CLOSED tomorrow, Saturday, December 5th due to the forecasted weather. Testing will resume Monday.

LCTV will post any winter storm updates tomorrow we receive to our Facebook page.


Weekly COVID-19 numbers from Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health

Map courtesy of WCVB, click for full-resolution image

Every week the MA Dept. of Public Health releases numbers for how COVID-19 has impacted the state, and we try to highlight some of these numbers so the community is informed about how COVID is impacting Lynn & the state. Their numbers factor in the past week as well as the week before, giving 2 weeks worth of data.

The City of Lynn is dealing with a serious wave of COVID-19 cases. Wednesday & Thursday saw new daily cases in Lynn of 169 & 191, a stark difference to the 67 reported on Tuesday. The last time the City of Lynn saw above 70 cases was November 18th, when there were 117. It has not been uncommon to see anywhere from 30-80 new cases a day in Lynn, but it rarely has gone above that in recent months.

The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 for Lynn over 14 days this week was 67.6;  the previous 4 weeks were 61.6, 45.1, 34.4, & 25.7. The positivity rate this week was 10.23%; the previous 4 weeks were 9.14%, 7.48%, 6.53%, & 5.70%. Over the last 2 week there were 11,462 tests, & while this does indeed mean that case numbers will go up the number to watch is positivity rate. The higher the positivity rate the more the virus is spreading, regardless of number of tests.

The outlook for the nation is not much better. The United States currently has 14.2 million cases, gaining 5 million cases in just 5 weeks. Daily records have been broken for new cases & deaths within 24 hours constantly over the past month. Just yesterday approx. 213K new cases were reported, another record. At least 2,500 COVID-19 related deaths have been reported for the third day straight, marking the deadliest stretch since the start of the pandemic. The death toll in the US now sits at approx. 276K, about 1 person every 30 seconds. A new report from the CDC predicts 9,500-19,500 new deaths likely the week of Christmas.

There are currently 138 communities in the yellow category, & 97 communities in the red category in Massachusetts. Two week ago there were 140 communities in the yellow category & 62 in the red, last week due to the holiday we did not provide a summary. The three weeks prior to that there were 109, 91, & 77 communties in the yellow category while there were 30, 16, & 121 in the red. The reason for the drastic difference in the numbers of communities in these categories about a month ago was due to a new classification system now being used by Mass DPH.

Communities with populations less than 10,000 residents, between 10,000 & 50,000 residents, & more than 50,000 residents have had new metrics applied to them. Their results fall into 4 color categories; grey, green, yellow, & red. Positivity rates & average daily cases will continue to be determined by two-week rolling average. Officials say the new categories help to make the community-specific data more nuanced, and better account for increases in cases in smaller communities. They will also incorporate examples where cases at colleges, nursing homes, or jails may push an entire community into the red category. The new metrics are as follows:

  • For communities with fewer than 10,000 residents:
    • Grey = 10 or fewer cases
    • Green = 15 or fewer cases
    • Yellow = 25 or fewer cases
    • Red = More than 25 cases.
  • For communities with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents:
    • Grey = 10 or fewer cases
    • Green = Less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents & more than 10 cases
    • Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 5% or more
    • Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 5% or more
  • For communities with more than 50,000 residents:
    • Grey = 15 cases or less
    • Green = 10 average cases per 100,000 residents and more than 15 cases
    • Yellow = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents or a test positivity rate of 4% or more
    • Red = 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a test positivity rate of 4% or more

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Below are the statistics for Lynn & the state.

City/Town Total Case Count Case Count (Last 14 Days) Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000 (Last 14 days) Relative Change in Case Counts Total Tests Total Tests (Last 14 days) Total Positive Tests (Last 14 days) Percent Positivity (Last 14 days) Change in Percent Positivity
Lynn 7,639 954 67.6 Higher 97,692 11,462 1,172 10.23% Higher
STATEWIDE 225,787 34,793 35.7 Lower 8,566,262 1,084,537 40,465 3.73% Higher

If you would like to find out full statistics for the entire state, including maps & town-by-town data, you can find the full weekly report from MA Dept. of Public Health by clicking here.


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Lynn Public Schools: Family Letter #9

Dear Lynn Public Schools Students & Families,
I am writing to all of you today to share some changes that the Lynn Public Schools will be putting in place for the remainder of the month of December 2020. These changes are designed to prioritize everyone’s safety, while also ensuring minimal impact on our students’ educational experience. There will be no interruption of either remote learning or of food services because of these adjustments.
As you know, COVID-19 is surging across the state and the country, with the City of Lynn experiencing one of the highest positivity rates in Massachusetts. Yet, the Lynn Public Schools has been a model of safety in the midst of this increase. To date, we have had no known instances of transmission on site, and minimal need for anyone to quarantine due to exposure in an LPS building. Because cases are currently rising, we have decided to make some adjustments for staff on-site schedules, so that we can continue to have this safety record. My commitment to you is to ensure we continue to operate safely, while also ensuring that our students continue to receive an excellent education. All of the decisions I make are with those priorities at the forefront.
The changes we are making are being implemented to reduce the number of staff in the building. Beginning December 7th until December 23rd, on Tuesdays and Thursdays, all LPS staff will work remotely. FOOD SERVICES WILL CONTINUE —YOU SHOULD FOLLOW THE SAME PROCEDURE FOR RETRIEVING MEALS AS YOU HAVE BEEN. Administrators and teachers will still be available to you via email, though not via phone.
On Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays, most staff may choose to work remotely, but principals, nurses, technology specialists, parent liaisons, and clerks will be in the building. If you need to speak with anyone via phone, or schedule an appointment to go to the school to resolve a technology issue, pick up materials, or for any other agreed-upon reason, you will be able to do so on those three days. We will continue to observe the safety protocols that have been in place all year.
In the midst of all of the changes this school year has brought so far, I continue to be inspired by and grateful for the constant that I see every day: the consistent commitment of LPS staff, students and families to dedicate themselves to teaching and learning, regardless of the mode of instruction. It is, as always, a privilege to work in partnership with you in this pursuit.
Respectfully,
Patrick Tutwiler, PhD
The above information was provided to us by Lynn Public Schools.
Please visit LPS’s website homepage to translate this letter in multiple languages.

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Significant winter storm expected on Saturday

Map courtesy of National Weather Service – Boston, click for full-resolution image

We are expecting a winter storm to impact southern New England tomorrow. The storm will start as rain before transitioning to a heavy, wet snow in the afternoon and continue into the night, with the possibility for significant snowfall. Snow could reach 2 inches an hour at points & wind gusts near 50 MPH on the coast that could potentially leading to downed trees, power outages, and dangerous driving conditions in Central & Northeastern Massachusetts.

This has the potential to be an impactful storm, but as of 1pm Lynn is not under any storm or wind watches or warnings. The National Weather Service says this system is “highly complex” and that their forecast could very easily change. At the moment Lynn is close enough to their predicted lines for anywhere from 1-6 inches, but that will change with any small shift in the system’s trajectory.
The track of the storm changed over the last 24 hours, leading to the current forecast which was not as severe as yesterday’s. Please follow the NWS-Boston on Facebook for the latest updates.
Map courtesy of National Weather Service – Boston, click for full-resolution image


Virtual Open Enrollment Event for MA Health Connector happening tomorrow

Join Vineyard Health Care Access & Health Connector for our first Live Virtual Open Enrollment Event! Get all the information you need to complete your application from the comfort of your home. Navigators will be ready to help you get the best insurance plan for you. RSVP by clicking here.

 


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The Food Project’s Lynn Outdoor Winter Market will be cancelled tomorrow, Dec. 5th, due to a winter storm. To learn more about how to stock up on locally grown vegetables this season, click here.



From Mayor McGee’s office: The Lynn Public Health Department has confirmed that as of today, the number of active, confirmed positive COVID-19 cases is 1,464 with 129 new cases today. 6,594 Lynn residents have recovered and 135 have died. The total number of confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Lynn since March 21, 2020, including those who have died and recovered, is 8,193. Please visit the City of Lynn COVID-19 Data Dashboard which is updated daily.

Every Thursday by 5:00pm, the State publishes COVID-19 data for every city & town in Massachusetts. Please visit the following link to see the report for the week of December 3rd, Lynn’s data can be found on Page 12: https://www.mass.gov/doc/weekly-covid-19-public-health-report-december-3-2020/download

The following statistics reflect the City of Lynn’s trends over the last 14 days:

  • Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000: 67.6
  • Total Tests: 11,462
  • Total Positive Tests: 1,172
  • Percent Positivity Rate: 10.23%

Stop the Spread Initiative Testing have been extended until December 31st

Please visit http://www.ci.lynn.ma.us/covid19/resources.shtml#p7GPc1_2 for more information on how you can get a free COVID-19 test in the City of Lynn until December 31st.

We will continue to provide regular updates on COVID-19 through the City website (www.lynnma.gov), social media, and the Smart 911 emergency notification system (sign up at www.smart911.com).

If you have a news story that you would like to share, please contact us via email or call 781-780-9460.

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