COVID-19 Weekly Update Archive For The Month Of February 2022

by Art and Maura Keene

As Of Monday, May 24, 2021 The Indy’s COVID-19 Daily Update became the COVID-19 Weekly Update. As of Wednesday July 14 ,2021 the Weekly Update moved to Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we will post the latest confirmed case counts 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 and death count is a substantial underestimate of the actual number of cases and deaths.  

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, 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, 2020. Here are links to archives of previous months’ posts. March  April , May,  June,  July,  August,  September,  October,  November,  December,  January, February, March 21, April 21, May 21, June 21, July 21, August 21, September 21, October 21, November 21, December 21, January 22
,
Henceforth, numbers in parentheses will indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

As Of Monday, May 24, 2021 The Indy’s COVID-19 Daily Update became the COVID-19 Weekly Update. As of Wednesday July 14 ,2021 the Weekly Update moved to Wednesdays. Each Wednesday we will post the latest confirmed case counts 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 and death count is a substantial underestimate of the actual number of cases and deaths.  

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, 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, 2020. Here are links to archives of previous months’ posts. March  April , May,  June,  July,  August,  September,  October,  November,  December,  January, February, March 21, April 21, May 21, June 21, July 21, August 21, September 21, October 21, November 21, December 21, January 22
,
Henceforth, numbers in parentheses will indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY February 23, as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,665,586 (+11,073)
Total Deaths: 23,157 (+183)
Confirmed Cases in Amherst –7369 (+306 ) Currently Active – 354 (-236) 14 day incidence average 150.1/ 100,000 (last week, 90.1/100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – 3322 (+456)
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – January 31 2022: 375. Cases For February not yet posted.
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source For Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 80,270,563 (+631,294)
Confirmed Deaths – 963,371 (+14,102)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 428,721,562
Deaths: 5,928,314 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
Amherst Now Has Highest Rate Of COVID Spread In State
(MassLive)
US COVID Infections Plumment 90% From Pandemic High. States Lift Mask Mandates
(CNN)
More Contagious Omicron Variant BA-2 Is Spreading In The US
(NPR)
How COVID Ends
(Time)
Queen Elizabeth Cancels Virtual Engagements As Mild COVID Symptoms Persist
(New York Times)
How Long COVID Exhausts The Body
(New York Times)
Vaccine Protection Was Much Weaker Against Omicron Data Show
(Washington Post)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY February 16, as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,654,513 (+16,985)
Total Deaths: 22,974 (+502)
Confirmed Cases in Amherst –7063 (+582 ) Currently Active – 590 (+269) 14 day incidence average 90.1/ 100,000 (last week, 77/100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – 2866 (+416)
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020: 322. COVID Cases Since January 1, 2022: 375
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source For Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 79,639,934 (+1,083,116)
Confirmed Deaths – 949,269 (+16,826)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 416,605,419
Deaths: 5,859,611 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:

Massachusetts Relaxes Indoor COVID Mask Advisory
(MassLive)
COVID-19 Rates Plunge To One Fifth Of Peak. But Thousands Are Still Dying Every Day
(CNN)
The Omicron Wave Is Receding But The Pandemic Is Far From Over
(Time)
Some Teens Seek COVID Shots Against Their Parents Wishes
(NPR)
Vaccination Reduces The Chance Of Getting Long COVID
(The Guardian)
What You Need To Know About the KF94 Mask
(New York Times)
SanFrancisco Recalls Three School Board Members Over Frustration With COVID Policies
(CBS News)
Why Wishful Thinking On COVID Remains As Dangerous As Ever
(The Nation)
Is It Time To Live With COVID? Some Scientists Warn Of “Endemic Delusion”
(Science)
The Seven Habits Of COVID Resilient Nations
(The Atlantic)
The COVID Strategy America Hasn’t Really Tried
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY February 9, as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,637,528 (+22,886)
Total Deaths: 22,472 (+308)
Confirmed Cases in Amherst –6481 (+252 ) Currently Active – 321 (+38) 14 day incidence average 77/ 100,000
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – 2450 (+229)
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020: 322. COVID Cases Since January 1, 2022: 283
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source For Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 78,556,153 (+2,036,963)
Confirmed Deaths – 932,443 (+18,483)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 401,853,062
Deaths: 5,785,153 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
Massachusetts’ Top Doctor Outlines Drop In State COVID Cases
(MassLive)
Massachusetts School Mask Mandate Set To Expire
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
900,000 Americans Have Died Of COVID In Two Years
(NPR)
There Is Nothing Normal About 1 Million People Dead From COVID
(Scientific American)
Global COVID Case Counts Top 400 Million After Passing 300 Million A Month Ago
(Market Watch)
Dozens Of Olympic Athletes In Isolation After Testing Positive For COVID
(CBS News)
New York Joins Several States In Rolling Back Mask Mandates
(New York Times)
CDC Director: COVID Hospitalizations Still Too High For Changes In Mask Guidance
(CNN)
Canada’s COVID-19 Trucker Protests Go Global
(CNN)
Inside Denmark’s “Live With COVID” Approach
(New York Times)
The Pandemic’s True Death Toll: Millions More Than Official Counts
(Nature)
Who Actually Needs A Fourth COVID Shot?
(Vox)
America Still Isn’t Ready For The Next Pandemic
(The Atlantic)
What Will The Next COVID Variant Look LIke?
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY February 2, as of AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,614,642 (+42,992)
Total Deaths: 22,164 (+495)
Confirmed Cases in Amherst –6229 (+291 ) Currently Active – 283 (-19) 14 day incidence average 191.8 /100,000
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – 2221 (+191)
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020: 322. COVID Cases Since January 1, 2022: 242 (+75).
Source For Amherst – Town Of Amherst Dashboard
Source For UMass UMass Dashboard
Source For Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 76,519,190 (+3,020,005)
Confirmed Deaths – 913,960 (+19,080)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide:383,482,097
Deaths: 5,710,073 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns Hopkins University.

News:
CVS, Walgreens, Walmart Among Pharmacies Offering Free N-95 Masks In Massachusetts
(MassLIve)
Levels Of COVID In Eastern Mass Waste Water Continue To Decline
(Boston Globe)
Vaccines For Kids Under Age Five Could Come Fast. Here’s The Timeline
(NPR)
Pfizer Applies To FDA For Two Shot Vaccine For Children Under Age 5
(New York Times)
Olympic Athletes, Team Officials Testing Positive For COVID-19
(ESPN)
US Has Far Higher COVID Death Rate Than Other Wealthy Countries
(New York Times)
COVID Hospitalizations During Omicron 23 Times Higher Among Unvaccinated
(ABC News)
The Omicron Surge Is Receding. The Hospital Crisis Is Not
(The Atlantic)
BIden Promised 500 Million Free COVID Tests. Then He Had To Find Them
(New York Times)
BA-2, The New Omicron Variant Is Now In 17 States And 49 Countries
(Poynter)
More Than Half Of US Public School Teachers Looking To Quit, Due To COVID, Burnout
(NBC News)
Tonga Goes Into Lockdown After First Community Transmitted COVID Cases Detected
(NPR)
“A Menace To Public Health”. Doctors Demand Spotify Put An End To COVID LIes Of Joe Rogan
(Rolling Stone)
Long COVID. Scientists Are Zeroing In On The Cause
(Vox)
Why The N-95 Mask Is The Best Mask For Omicron
(Time)
Exposure To One Nasal Droplet Enough For COVID-19 Infection – New Study
(The Guardian)
The Coronavirus Will Surprise US Again
(The Atlantic)