Virus rates dropped for a fourth straight week moving Plymouth from a red to yellow community according to state data released today.
Plymouth’s incidence rate per 100,000 dipped to 18.1 per 100,000 from 24.3 the week before and the percent of positive tests fell to 3.6% from 4.4%, both data points are based on a 14 day moving average, representing data from April 11 to April 24.
The year’s lowest rate per 100,000 occurred the week ending March 9, just before the outbreak at the High Point Treatment Center in Manomet, where according to the Plymouth Director of Public Karen Keane at least 50 residents have tested positive, with more testing yet to come, as of March 24th.
The highest rate per 100,000 was in mid-January at 89.4/100,000 residents since the state has been compiling the data in this format on a municipal level in early August of 2020.
Board member Susan Ahern estimated the tougher rules impacted thousands of wedding attendees in Plymouth this spring.
“We’re not going to be particularly happy if this turns out to be the wrong decision…let’s hope for the best,” said Board of Health Chair Barry Potvin.
Under the prior standard which was in effect the week of April 12th a “close contact” with a confirmed case within 6 feet for 15 minutes or longer within a twenty-four period would result in a quarantined student. Over school vacation state has reduced the number of feet to within 3 feet.
The CDC standard remains at 6 feet and the new 3 foot Commonwealth of Massachusetts standard varies from CDC guidance.
Overall virus cases in the school district are down slightly. Students returned from April vacation yesterday.
Ten students have active virus cases, down from 17 the week before (2 from in school exposure) , with 2 employee cases (1 from in school exposure).
Virus rates in Plymouth have dropped for the third week in a row, according to the state’s virus dashboard. Plymouth’s incidence rate slipped to 24.3 per 100,000 from 29.8 the week before and the percent of positive tests fell to 4.41% from 5.4%. Both data points are based on a 14 day moving average from April 4-17th.
The Town is still considered in the “red” until the incidence rate falls below 10 or the positivity rate falls below 4%.
The year’s lowest rate per 100,000 occurred the week ending March 9, just before the outbreak at the High Point Treatment Center in Manomet, where according to the Plymouth Director of Public Karen Keane at least 50 residents have tested positive, with more testing yet to come, as of March 24th.
The highest rate per 100,000 was in mid-January at 89.4/100,000 residents since the state has been compiling the data in this format on a municipal level in early August of 2020.
After middle and high school students returned to full time in person learning Monday, the number of students quarantined for virus exposure has nearly doubled since last week, according to data released by the school department today. Quarantined students don’t necessarily have the virus and the school department is following state guidelines for what constitutes a “close contact” at school. School department data is released system wide, not by grade level.
Quarantined students due to “in school” exposure jumped from 22 to 116, since last week.
SOURCE: PLYMOUTH PUBLIC SCHOOL DATA
The number of quarantined students due to in or out of school exposure almost doubled from 87 last week to 171 this week. All of that increase was due “in school” exposure as “out of school exposure” actual fell from last week, down to 55 students from 65 the prior week. But quarantined students due to “in school” exposure jumped from 22 to 116, since last week.
Meanwhile the total number of students with the virus actually fell from last week down to 17 from 25, none of the current student cases are traced to “in school’ exposure.
Employee cases held steady at two cases, also none traced to “in school’ exposure.
