COVID-19 Weekly Update Archive For The Month Of June, 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.  This underestimate is thought to be especially extreme under current conditions where the availability of testing and tracking have been greatly reduced.

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, February 22, March 2022, April 2022, May 2022
,
Henceforth, numbers in parentheses will indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

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.  This underestimate is thought to be especially extreme under current conditions where the availability of testing and tracking have been greatly reduced.

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, February 22, March 2022, April 2022, May 2022
,
Henceforth, numbers in parentheses will indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

UPDATE Friday JULY 1, as of 8 AM
Note: This week, numbers in parentheses indicate increases or decrease since Wednesday June 22.

Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,924,702 (+14,594 ) Total Deaths: 20,944 (+69) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID from the records).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9609 (+46) Currently Active – 75 (+20) 14 day incidence average 17.4/ 100,000 (last week, 15.8 /100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021.
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10.
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020-January 1, 2022: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – February 28 2022: 465. Number of new cases for February 2022: 90. New cases for March 2022:52 (11 cases were reported before elimination of the mask mandate on 3/11 and 41 after). New cases for April 2022: 113. New Cases For May: 240. New Cases for June: 39 Total Since January 1, 2022: 999
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 – 89.360,080 (+1,115,210)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,042,678 (+3,778)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 552,814,489
Deaths: 6,358,283 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

News:
The BA.5 Story. The Takeover By This Omicron Sub-variant Is Not Pretty
(Ground Truth – Eric Topol Substack)
FDA Asks COVID-19 Vaccine Makers To Target Omicron Variants
(Yahoo Finance)
US Maternal Deaths Climbed 33% During COVID-19
(CIDRAP)
Long COVID In Children: A Systematic Review and Meta Analyses
(Nature)
The Secrets Of COVID-19 Brain Fog Are Stating To Lift
(Wired)
Supreme Court Declines Religious Challenge To Vaccine Mandate For Health Care Workers In New York
(USA Today)
Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas Repeats Claim That COVID-19 Vaccines Are Derived From Cells Of Aborted Fetuses
(Business Insider)
Monkeypox Mutating 12 Times Faster Than Expected Amid Warning That UK Cases Could Hit 60,000/day
(Independent)
America Is Sliding Into Long Pandemic Defeat
(The Atlantic)
We Need To Be Better Prepared For A New Pandemic
(The Guardian)

UPDATE Wednesday JUNE 22 , as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,910,108 (+9,732 ) Total Deaths: 20,835 (+46) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID from the records).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9563 (+35) Currently Active – 55 (-11) 14 day incidence average 15.8/ 100,000 (last week, 23.4 /100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021.
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10.
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020-January 1, 2022: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – February 28 2022: 465. Number of new cases for February 2022: 90. New cases for March 2022:52 (11 cases were reported before elimination of the mask mandate on 3/11 and 41 after). New cases for April 2022: 113. New Cases For May: 240. New Cases for June: 39 Total Since January 1, 2022: 999
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 – 88,244,870 (+695,307)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,038,900 (+2,417)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 545,895,895
Deaths: 6,343,949 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

News:
Reflection On Massachusetts’ Highly Ranked COVID Response
(Lowell Sun)
COVID Vaccine Appointments For Young Children Now Available In Massachusetts
(WCVB)
COVID-19 Vaccinations Begin For Children Under 5
(CNN)
COVID Vaccines For Young Children: What You Need To Know
(The Guardian)
How Cuba Became A Pioneer in COVID Vaccines For Kids
(Washington Post)
Despite Another COVID Surge Deaths Stay Near Lows
(New York Times)
COVID Surges Across Europe As Experts Warn Not To Let Guard Down
(The Guardian)
What To Know About The New Omicron Subvariant BA.4 and BA.5
(Time)
Worried About Returning To Work And Catching COVID? You’re No Alone
(CBC)
Yes, You Should Test For COVID Before Going To A Gathering
(Vox)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY JUNE 15, as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,900,376 (+12,952 ) Total Deaths: 20,789 (+97) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID from the records).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9528 (+58) Currently Active – 66 (+3) 14 day incidence average 23.4/ 100,000 (last week, 42.2 /100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021.
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10.
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020-January 1, 2022: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – February 28 2022: 465. Number of new cases for February 2022: 90. New cases for March 2022:52 (11 cases were reported before elimination of the mask mandate on 3/11 and 41 after). New cases for April 2022: 113. New Cases For May: 240. New Cases for June: 38 Total Since January 1, 2022: 998
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 – 87,549,563 (+767,159)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,036,483 (+2,199)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 542,021,869
Deaths: 6,334,721 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

News:
US Coronavirus Cases Are Leveling Off After Spring Surge
(New York Times)
New Variants Are Poised To Keep COVID Circulating At High Levels This Summer
(CNN)
COVID Wave This Fall And Winter Could Potentially Infect 100 Million White House Warns
(CNN)
Studies Of Child Hepatitis Cases Point To Prior COVID Infection
(ABC News)
Advisory Panel Backs COVID Vaccine For Children Under Five
(ABC News)
COVID-19 Vaccines For Babies And Toddlers: Four Big Questions
(Vox)
NIH Study: Mandatory Masking In Schools Reduced COVID Cases
(NIH)
Studies Of Child Hepatitis Cases Point To Prior COVID Infection
(ABC News)
Fauci Tests Positive For COVID
(CNN)
CDC: 67% Of Americans Should Be Wearing Masks Indoors
(US News)
You Can Get COVID Again. Here’s What To Know About Reinfection
(New York TImes)
Long COVID Could Be A “Mass Deterioration Event”
(The Atlantic)
We’re Not Out Of The Pandemic Woods Yet
(Medpage Today)
Have We Really Learned Nothing From The Pandemic?
(The Nation)

Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,887,424 (+16,588 ) Total Deaths: 20,692 (+98) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID from the records).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9470 (+61) Currently Active – 63 (-30) 14 day incidence average 42.2/ 100,000 (last week, 88.2 /100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021.
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10.
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020-January 1, 2022: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – February 28 2022: 465. Number of new cases for February 2022: 90. New cases for March 2022:52 (11 cases were reported before elimination of the mask mandate on 3/11 and 41 after). New cases for April 2022: 113. New Cases For May: 240. New Cases for June: 24 Total Since January 1, 2022: 984
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 – 86,782,404 (+880,607)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,034,284 (+2,676)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 536,716,527
Deaths: 6,323,789 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

News:
Franklin County Among CDC’s Worst COVID Categories
(WWLP)
State Has A Lot More To Do To Keep Students And Educators Safe From COVID
(Boston Globe)
Concern Grows Over Two New Omicron Variants Spreading Across US
(The Guardian)
Italian Study Shows That Improved Ventilation Can Cut School COVID Cases By 82%
(Reuters)
Indoor Air Pollution In The Time Of COVID
(EOS)
We Need To Improve Indoor Air Quality. Here’s How and Why
(Scientific American)
COVID Vaccines For Kids Under Five Could Begin As Early As June 21
(CNBC)
Don’t Wait To Get Your Kid Vaccinated
(The Atlantic)
Kids With Long COVID
(New York TImes)
Revised Moderna Booster Works Better Against Omicron
(New York TImes)
FDA Advisers Recommend Authorization Of Norovax Vaccine
(New York Times)
The Kids Who Have Never Known Life Without COVID
(Vox)
There Will Be Another Pandemic Disease Experts Say. Here Are Six Ways We Can Prepare For It
(CNN)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY JUNE 1, as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,870,836 (+19,045 ) Total Deaths: 20,594 (+61) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID from the records).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9409 (+81) Currently Active – 93 (-90) 14 day incidence average 88.2/ 100,000 (last week, 113 /100,000)
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021.
UMass: Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10.
Amherst Public Schools: Cumulative Cases Beginning September 1, 2020-January 1, 2022: 322. COVID Cases form January 1, – February 28 2022: 465. Number of new cases for February 2022: 90. New cases for March 2022:52 (11 cases were reported before elimination of the mask mandate on 3/11 and 41 after). New cases for April 2022: 113. New Cases For May: 240 Total Since January 1, 2022: 960
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 – 85,901,797 (+660,781)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,031,613 (+2,089)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 532,956,799
Deaths: 6,314,065 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

News:
Why This Wave Of Hospitalizations In Massachusetts Is Different
(WBUR)
Reported COVID-19 Infection Levels Nearly Six Times Higher Than Last Memorial Day
(ABC News)
During The Omicron Wave, Death Rates Soared For Older People
(New York Times)
Missing COVID-19 Data Leave US In The Dark About Current Surge
(Science News)
“Battle Of Omicron” Being Won By BA-4 and BA-5 Variants As Overlapping COVID Waves Hit US
(Deadline)
Barriers To Paxlovid Access Could Exacerbate Health Inequities
(CNN)
The Battle For Paxlovid, Rich Countries Are Snapping Up Available COVID-19 Treatments
(Politico)
The Rising Costs Of China’s Zero COVID Policy
(Time)
Can I Stop Isolating If I’m Still Testing Positive For COVID-19?
(New York Times)
Why Is This Group Of Doctors So Intent On Unmasking Kids?
(The New Republic)
COVID-19 Risks For Kids Under 5. What Parents Should Know
(Time)
Is The COVID Pandemic Finally Nearing Its End?
(The Guardian)