New Covid cases increase following Thanksgiving

Dec 3, 2021

New cases of Covid-19 continue to rise in Dartmouth following Thanksgiving weekend.

The state’s Department of Public health confirmed 200 cases in Dartmouth over the past two weeks — up 38 from the state’s previous weekly report.

According to state data, Dartmouth had a 14-day average daily incidence rate of 38.5 per 100,000 people and a 6.43% positivity rate.

More than a third of of the cases reported in the past two weeks came from Dartmouth’s public schools. According to the state’s report, the district saw 75 cases between Nov. 18 and Dec. 1 — 67 students and eight staff members.

The last time the state reported 200 or more cases of Covid-19 within a two week period was in February 2021, before vaccines were made more widely available.

As of Dec. 2, 63% of Dartmouth residents have received at least a first vaccination dose. That amounts to 23,467 people. More than half of all residents — 55% — are fully vaccinated against the virus.

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.

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

Vaccinations also continue at the clinic being operated by Southcoast Health at the VF Outlet. Clinics will be operated Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Thursday from 4 p.m. to 8 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.

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.

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