Dartmouth sees slight uptick in Covid cases

Feb 7, 2021

New Covid cases are once again on the rise in Dartmouth, according to the latest numbers from the town’s Board of Health.

For the week of Feb. 5, the town reported 164 new cases — up from the 123 the week before, but still 54% lower than the record high 300 in January.

State data as of Feb. 4 shows Dartmouth as having a 14-day average daily incidence rate at 55.6 per 100,000 people and a 5.83% positivity rate.

Schools are currently seeing 246 active cases among students and staff as of Feb. 5, with the illness affecting nearly 6.9% of the student population. Active cases may include those who tested positive and are still isolating from the week before.

Dartmouth High, which returned to in-person learning on Feb. 2, is the most affected school. Currently, 70 students (or 7.8% of the student body) and nine staff members actively infected and isolating.

Meanwhile, UMass Dartmouth reports five positive cases in the past seven days, or 0.5% of all those tested. On Feb. 3 — the last day reported — there was only one positive test out of 365 on campus.

While the numbers are still down from the post-holiday surge, Public Health Director Chris Michaud has noted concerns with potential gatherings for this year’s Super Bowl on Feb. 7.

"We are urging everyone to make safe choices this weekend," he said in a statement. "While Covid-19 case numbers are trending downward right now, gathering or hosting Super Bowl celebrations with those you don't live with can greatly increase the potential for transmission."

As of Feb. 6, Massachusetts has an estimated 58,786 active Covid-19 cases, with 14,622 coronavirus-related deaths reported. There have been 513,526 total confirmed cases in the commonwealth thus far, representing over 7.4% of the population.