Covid cases decline following record infections

Jan 27, 2022

After weeks of record highs, cases of Covid-19 are beginning to decline in Dartmouth.

In the past two weeks, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed 937 cases in town — down  311 from the state’s previous report.

According to state data, Dartmouth had a daily average incidence rate of 240.2 per 100,000 people and a 22.72% positivity rate.

The state also reported 93 cases within all six of Dartmouth’s public schools between Jan. 20 and 26 —  87 students and six staff members. The week before, the district had more than 150 reported cases of Covid-19.

While cases are on the decline, transmission still remains higher than this point last year, before vaccines were more widely available.

As the latest wave of Covid-19 infection continues, health officials continue to encourage residents to get their vaccines if they haven’t already.

People aged 5 or older who live, work or study in Massachusetts are eligible to be vaccinated against Covid-19. Those over the age of 18 can sign up to receive any vaccine, but those ages 5 to 17 can only get the Pfizer vaccine.

As of Jan. 27, 65% of Dartmouth residents have received at least a first vaccination dose. That amounts to 24,246 people. More than half of all residents — 58% — are fully vaccinated against the virus.

Those eligible for the vaccine can find appointments at providers around the state using the state’s website vaxfinder.mass.gov.

Those who would prefer to make an appointment online can call 211 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Friday and navigate to the vaccine helpline 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.

Vaccinations also continue at the clinic being operated by Southcoast Health at the VF Outlet. Clinics will be operated Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., Thursday from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m., and Saturday 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.

Health officials recommend all Massachusetts residents 16 and up get their booster as soon as possible.

Residents are eligible to get a booster five 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.

According to Southcoast Health, only 3% of hospitalized Covid-positive patients in its hospitals are fully vaccinated and boosted and that unvaccinated residents are 31 times more likely to become infected than fully vaccinated residents who have gotten a booster shot.