Covid cases back on the decline

After a slight uptick last week, new Covid cases are back on the decline in Dartmouth. This week, the town’s Board of Health reported 55 new Covid-19 cases.

According to state data, Dartmouth had a 14-day average daily incidence rate of 20.2 per 100,000 people and a 2.88% positivity rate in the two weeks ending March 25.

Dartmouth is still classified “yellow” per the state’s guidelines — the same category the town has fallen into since Feb. 18.

The state also reports no new cases in Dartmouth’s public schools for the third week in a row. Earlier in the week, Pre-K though first grade classes returned to the classrooms full time.

The rest of the town’s elementary schools are expected to return for full in-person learning by April 5. Middle schools will be required to reopen full time on April 28.

Meanwhile, UMass Dartmouth reported 11 new cases this past week — 0.86% of the 1,278 tested.

At the Bristol County House of Correction, the state reports zero new cases among inmates and staff. As of March 18, 195 inmates and 188 staff have gotten their first doses at the Faunce Corner jail.

Vaccinations across the county are continuing to increase — with 24% of all residents getting a first dose and 13% getting their second jab.

Currently, everyone over the age of 60, along with essential workers in industries including grocery store and food service employees, transit workers, and court employees, is eligible for the vaccine. 

On April 5, those who are 55 or older or who have a “high-risk” medical condition will become eligible. On April 19, all adults over the age of 16 will be eligible for the vaccine.

Although not everyone is eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19 yet, all Massachusetts residents can now sign up to be notified when they become eligible to schedule an appointment at a mass vaccination site.

The state’s preregistration system launched on March 12, and Dartmouth residents can preregister at https://vaccinesignup.mass.gov/. 

Anyone who cannot fill out the form online can ask a family member, companion or caregiver to fill it out, or call the state’s vaccination help line by dialing 211.

Vaccine supply and available appointments at the Southcoast Health VF Outlet site are dependent on the state and could vary from week to week.

Those interested in getting vaccinated at the VF Outlet can now sign up as slots are available either through their MyChart account or at www.southcoast.org/covid-19-vaccine-scheduling/, which does not require a MyChart account.

Residents who are older who do not have access to a computer, and who may need assistance accessing the clinic, should contact the Dartmouth Council on Aging at (508) 999-4717.

As of March 26, Massachusetts has an estimated 28,4810 active Covid-19 cases, with 16,711 coronavirus-related deaths reported since the pandemic began.

There have been 588,599 total confirmed cases in the commonwealth thus far, representing more than 8.5% of the population.

So far, 1,136,733 people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated.