December Archive: COVID-19 Daily Update

by Art and Maura Keene

The Indy’s COVID-19 Daily Update posts the daily confirmed case count for Coronavirus (COVID-19) for Massachusetts, for the nation and for the globe.  

Making Sense of the Numbers
Authorities caution that the confirmed case count is a substantial underestimate of the actual number of cases because access to testing in the United States is still severely limited.  Only about 10% to 15% of all cases are being confirmed in the U.S. said Andrew Lover of UMass Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences. (For more information on testing see here and  here and here, and here and here). 

We rely on well-vetted sources to produce our daily update and draw mostly from the following: Center for Disease Control (CDC), Massachusetts Department of Public Health (DPH), Johns Hopkins University, Yale School of Public Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Washington Post, New York Times, The Guardian, NPR, MSNBC, NBC, STAT News, and the Twitter feeds and/or blogs of Andy Slavitt, Greg Gonsolves, Ezekiel Emanuel, Marc Lipsich, and David Wallace-Wells.

Archives
The Indy began posting COVID-19 Daily Update on March 18. Here are links to archives of previous months’ posts. March, April , May, June, July, August, September, October, November.

UPDATE for THURSDAY, December 31, as of 9 AM

Confirmed Cases in MA – 367,918 (+6,839)
Deaths: 12,338 (+120 )
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 833 (+12) Currently Active -102 (+18)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 20,225,939 (+ 248,215)
Confirmed Deaths –350,908 (+4,329)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 83,233,740
Deaths: 1,815,518 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
US Sets COVID-19 Death Record For Second Day In A Row. New Forecast Suggests 80,000 Could Die In Next Three Weeks
(CNN)
MA Has Highest Number of Newly Recorded Deaths Since May
(WCVB)
CA Reaches 25,000 Deaths In Deadliest Month Yet. LA Experiencing Catastrophic Surge
(The Guardian)
Discovery Of Coronavirus Variant In Colorado and California Alarms Scientists
(New York Times)
Stay Home For New Year’s Eve Public Told
(BBC)
America’s Vaccine Rollout Is A Disaster
(New York Magazine)
Over 500 Coronavirus Vaccine Doses Intentionally Destroyed By Hospital Worker In Wisconsin
(NPR)
The Coronavirus Situation Worldwide At The End Of The Year
(European Center For Disease Control)
Interview: Dr. Fauci On When Will Life Return To Normal
(Five Thirty-Eight)

UPDATE for WEDNESDAY, December 30, as of 9 AM

Confirmed Cases in MA – 361,079 (+4,145)
Deaths: 12,218 (+60 )
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 821 (+27) Currently Active -84 (-8)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 19,977,724 (+ 196,006)
Confirmed Deaths –346,579 (+3,397 )
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 82,463,042
Deaths: 1,799,922 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:

Luke Letlow, Louisiana Congressman Elect, Dies of COVID-19. He was 41.
(CNN)
US Sets Another Record For COVID-19 Deaths
(CNN)
US Reports First Case Of UK COVID-19 Variant
(The Guardian)
UK Approves COVID-19 Vaccine From Astra-Zeneca/Oxford
(New York Times)
Adequately Vaccinating Americans Will Take Ten Years At The Current Pace
(NBC News)
Biden Faults Trump For Slow Vaccine Rollout
(Bloomberg)
NY Bans Most Evictions As Tenants Struggle To Pay Rent During Pandemic
(New York Times)
The Plague Year. The Mistakes Behind America’s Coronavirus Tragedy
(The New Yorker)

UPDATE for TUESDAY, December 29, as of 9 AM

Confirmed Cases in MA – 356,934 (+4,198)
Deaths: 12,158 (+48 )
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 794 (+25) Currently Active -92 (-5)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 19,781,718 (+ 206,510)
Confirmed Deaths –343,182 (+2,033 )
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 81,811,789
Deaths: 1,784,529 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
MA COVID Cases Soar Over Weekend
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Fauci Warns Of Post-Holiday Surge Upon Surge
(Rolling Stone)
Vaccine Rollout Going Much Slower Than Expected
(CNN)
Chinese Journalist Who Documented Coronavirus Outbreak in Wuhan Gets Four Year Prison Sentence
(CNN)
Russia Admits Its COVID-19 Death Toll Is Three Times Higher Than Previously Reported
(AlJAzeera)
Coronavirus Variants and Mutations Explained
(BBC)
Coronavirus Sharpens America’s Already Stark Economic Inequalities
(The Guardian)
Pandemic Year Two. As Vaccines Roll Out The US Will Face A Choice About What To Learn and What To Forget
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE for MONDAY, December 28, as of 9 AM
(Today’s cumulative numbers reflect combined data for both Sunday (12/27) and Monday (12/28)

Confirmed Cases in MA – 352,736 (+10,811)
Deaths: 12,110 (+147) no reporting from Christmas Day
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 769 (+0) Currently Active -97 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 19,575,218 (+ 365,052)
Confirmed Deaths –341,149 (+2,886 )
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 81,237,118
Deaths: 1,774,024 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
US Surpasses 19 Million Cases Amid Fears Of Holiday Surge
(Yahoo News)
150,00 Residents Of MA Long Term Care Facilities To Begin Receiving COVID-19 Vaccine This Week
(MassLive)
Scenes From Gallup, NM. Where COVID-19 Has Hit The Navajo Nation Hard
(New York Times)
South Africa Hits One Million Cases As New Coronavirus Variant Spreads Rapidly
(The Guardian)
Pandemic Poses Greatest Threat To Mental Health Since WWII
(The Guardian)
How Science Beat The Virus
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE for SATURDAY, December 26, as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 341,925 (+0) no reporting from Christmas Day
Deaths: 11,963 (+0) no reporting from Christmas Day
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 769 (+0) Currently Active -97 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 19,210,166 (+ 96,900)
Confirmed Deaths –338,263 (+4,045)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 80,291,575
Deaths: 1,759,417 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
Global Coronavirus Cases Top 80 Million
(USA Today)
Baystate Doctors Help Pregnant Women Decide Whether To Get Vaccine
(MassLive)
As Virus Resurges In Africa, Doctors Fear The Worst Is Yet To Come
(New York Times)
One Person is Dying Every 10 Minutes From COVID-19 In LA County
(CNN)
Duke Women’s Basketball Cancels Remainder Of Season Due To COVID-19
(CNN)
How We Can Encourage More People To Wear Masks
(Vox)

UPDATE for FRIDAY, December 25, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 341,925 (+5,937)
Deaths: 11,963 (+76)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 769 (+0) Currently Active -97 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 19,113,266 (+ 196,114)
Confirmed Deaths –334,218 (+2,851)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 79,860,156
Deaths: 1,751,824 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
Every US Coronavirus Death Is Preventable Experts Say
(CNN)
Southern States Facing Explosion Of Coronavirus Cases
(New York Times)
CA Becomes First State In Nation To Record 2 Million Coronavirus Cases
(Axios)
Black Doctor Died Of COVID-19 After Accusing Hospital Of Racist Denial Of Treatment
(CNN)
More Than 35,000 In MA Have Gotten First Dose Of Vaccine
(Boston Globe)
New Science Re-evaluates The Risks Of Indoor Dining
(Boston Globe)
Why The Pandemic Is So Bad In America
(The Atlantic)
What Does The Lightning Fast Quest For COVID Vaccines Mean For Other Diseases?
(Nature)
How Many People Died Of COVID-19 From Thanksgiving Gatherings? In Florida, You Won’t Know Until After New Years
(South Florida Sun Sentinel)

UPDATE for THURSDAY, December 24, as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 337,065 (+4,814)
Deaths: 11,887 (+83)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 769 (+0) Currently Active -97 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 544 (+7). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 18,917,152 (+ 229,822)
Confirmed Deaths –334,218 (+3,377)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 79,182,838
Deaths: 1,740,320 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:

News:
MA Medical Experts Worried About Post-Christmas Surge Within A Surge
(NBC Boston)
US Passes 1 Million People Vaccinated For COVID-19
(CNN)
COVID-19 Vaccines Are Not Being Given As Quickly As Expected
(NBC News)
CDC Projects Over 420,000 COVID-19 Deaths In US By Mid-January. California Exceeds 2 Million Cases.
(USA Today)
Despite Warnings, Holiday Travel Has Already Set Record For Busiest Weekend of Pandemic
(Washington Post)
Dr Anthony. Fauci and Frontline Health Workers Are Time Magazine’s People Of The Year
(Time)

UPDATE for WEDNESDAY, December 23, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 331,174 (+3,800)
Deaths: 11,804 (+45)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 769 (+9) Currently Active -97 (-18)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 537 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 18,687,330 (+ 207,572)
Confirmed Deaths –330,841 (+4008)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 78,503,445
Deaths: 1,726,982 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
New Post Christmas COVID Restrictions For Massachusetts
(NBC Boston)
Battling The Second Surge Of COVID-19 At UMass Memorial
(Boston Globe)
How The Pfizer BioNTech Vaccine Works
(New York Times)
Taiwan Imposes New Restrictions After Recording Its First COVID Cases Since April
(The Guardian)\
The Mysterious Link Between COVID-19 and Sleep
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE for TUESDAY, December 22, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 327,374 (+3,843)
Deaths: 11,759 (+42)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 760 (+0) Currently Active -115 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 537 (+1). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 18,479,758 (+ 212,179)
Confirmed Deaths –326,833 (+1,964)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 77,862,704
Deaths: 1,712,010 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
More Countries Impose Restrictions On UK Travel As Concerns Mount Over Virus Mutation
(New York Times)
Looming Questions For Scientists About The New Coronavirus Mutation
(StatNews)
California Hospitals Discuss Rationing Care In Midst Of Latest Coronavirus Surge
(The Guardian)
California Has Lost Control
(The Atlantic)
Inside The Chaotic First Days Of The Effort To Vaccinate America
(NBC News)
Glitches In MA’s Vaccine Rollout
(Boston Globe)
Springfield Schools To Remain Fully Remote Until At Least April 8
(MassLive)

UPDATE for MONDAY, December 21, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 323,531 (+4,261)
Deaths: 11,717 (+60)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 760 (+23) Currently Active -115 (+8)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 536 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 18,267,579 (+ 188,654)
Confirmed Deaths –324,869 (1,465)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 77,274,532
Deaths: 1,701,829 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
New Coronavirus Mutation Prompts Lockdowns In UK. Here’s What It Means.
(New York Times)
Here’s What We Know About The New COVID Mutation
(BBC)
Officials Warn Of Christmas Surge
(Washington Post)
US Health Care Workers Protest Chaos In Vaccine Rollout
(The Guardian)
People Thought COVID-19 Was Relatively Harmless In Young Adults. They Were Wrong
(Portside)

UPDATE for SUNDAY, December 20, as of 8 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 319,270 (+4,344)
Deaths: 11,657 (+47)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 737 (+0) Currently Active -107 (+0)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 536 (+0). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 18,078,925 (+ 189,347)
Confirmed Deaths –323,404 (+2559)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 76,731,305
Deaths: 1,694,145 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
1009 Students and Staff Tested Positive For COVID-19 In MA Schools Last Week
(MassLive)
Virus Overwhelms US and Europe Even As Vaccine Rolls Out
(New York Times)
Passenger Who Died On United Airlines Flight May Have Had COVID-19
(CNN)
Flights To And From UK Cancelled As New Coronavirus Variant Deemed “Out Of Control”
(CNN)
A Side By Side Comparison Of The Pfizer and Moderna Vaccines
(StatNews)
Your COVID-19 Vaccine Questions Answered
(USA Today)

UPDATE for SATURDAY, December 19, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 314,926 (+5,679)
Deaths: 11,610 (+52)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 737 (+10) Currently Active -107 (-3)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 536 (+1). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH.NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 17,889,578 (+ 261,000)
Confirmed Deaths –320,845 (+2916)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 76,143,682
Deaths: 1,684,060 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
In Massachusetts, Inmates Will Be Among The First To Get Vaccine
(New York Times)
FDA Clears Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine
(New York Times)
Stanford Apologies For COVID-19 Vaccination Plan That Excluded Front Line Doctors
(Boston Globe)

UPDATE for FRIDAY, December 18, as of 9 AM
Confirmed Cases in MA – 309, 247 (+5,135)
Deaths: 11,588 (+45)
Confirmed Cases Amherst – 727 Currently Active -110
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 535 (+7). 
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source for Massachusetts: Mass DPH. NYT Daily Dashboard and  Boston.maps
Confirmed Cases in USA – 17,628,578
Confirmed Deaths –317,929
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 75,452,959
Deaths: 1,671,735 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
US Surpasses 17 Million COVID-19 Cases. Hospitalizations At All Time High
(CNN)
With 3600 COVID-19 Deaths In One Day, US Sets Another Ominous Record
(NPR)
More Than Half Of MA Communities Are Now At High Risk For COVID-19
(Boston Globe)
FDA Panel Endorses Moderna’s COVID-19 Vaccine, Clearing Path For Approval
(Stat News)
States Report Confusion As Government Reduces Vaccine Shipments
(Washington Post)
Governors Complain COVID-19 Vaccine Shipments Being Cut
(NBC News)
ICU Capacity Drops To 0% In Southern California
(ABC7.com)
A Safe Christmas Holiday? Here’s How Europe Is Preparing
(CNN)
Coronavirus Risk And Public Holidays. Here’s What The Data Say
(Nature)
Florida Governor Faces Criticism Over State’s Coronavirus Response
(CNN)
There Will Be No Safe Havens In COVID-19’s Final Assault On US
(Time)
COVID-19 Has Changed Science Forever
(The Atlantic)