Just ahead of Thanksgiving, Dartmouth saw a surge in new Covid-19 cases, according to the state’s Department of Public Health

In the two weeks leading up to the holiday known for large gatherings, the state reported 162 new cases of Covid-19 in town— up 48 from the state’s previous weekly report.

Due to the holiday, the state’s weekly school district numbers will be released Dec. 2. As of Nov. 26, 6% of kids in Dartmouth ages 5 to 11 — 285 people — have gotten a first vaccination dose against the virus.

According to state data, Dartmouth had a 14-day average daily incidence rate of 22.3 per 100,000 people and a 4.21% positivity rate.

The surge in cases comes one week after the state expanded eligibility for Covid-19 booster shots for all vaccinated adults.

Residents are eligible to get a booster six months after receiving the second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or two months after receiving the single-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Centers for Disease Control recommendations allow for mixing and matching of different booster doses.

Appointments for booster shots are available at the state-run website vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Vaccinations also continue at the clinic being operated by Southcoast Health at the VF Outlet. Clinics are operated Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Thursdays from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Patients can book their shots by signing up through their MyChart account or by visiting www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling.

In-home vaccinations can be scheduled by calling (833) 983-0485, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. English and Spanish speaking staff are on hand, and have access to translators for over 100 languages. In-home vaccinations are performed by medical professionals following public health guidelines and tailored to the needs of the patient. 

The state has also set up a call center for those who are unable to access the vaccine appointment website or who have trouble navigating the complex online system.

From 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, people can call 211 and navigate to the vaccine help line by pressing one when prompted. The call center has workers on staff who speak English and Spanish, and there are translators available to support residents in about 100 additional languages.

As of Nov. 26,  the state reports that 63% of Dartmouth residents have received at least a first vaccination dose. That amounts to 23,266 people. More than half of all residents — 55% — are fully vaccinated against the virus.

The Covid-19 vaccine is free, and individuals do not need insurance or an ID to get the vaccine.