COVID-19 Weekly Update Archive For The Month Of August, 2022.

by Art and Maura Keene

Beginning on July 27, we began to include reporting on Monkeypox which has been declared a public health emergency by the WHO.

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 and where reporting to public health officials has all but stopped. It is also not clear whether deaths due to post-COVID complications are incorporated into COVID mortality stats but it would appear that they mostly are not.

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, June 2022
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Numbers in parentheses indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 31, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 2,005,250 (8751). Total Deaths: 21,390 (+48) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9951 (+18). Currently Active –24 (+0). 14 day incidence average 7.8/ 100,000 (last week, 9.6).
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, 2022.
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 – 96,149,096 (+611,102)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,069,748 (+3332)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 607,497,755 (+4,694,949)
Deaths: 6,492,948 (+15,757)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

MONKEYPOX CASE COUNTS
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In The USA: 18,417 (+2508)
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In MA: 303 (+38)
Source and More Data: CDC Map And US Case Count For Monkey Pox

COVID NEWS
Northampton Vaccine Program Leader Named National Immunization Champion
(Daily Hampshire Gazette)
Is Massachusetts Prepared For COVID Safety In The Classroom?
(Boston Globe)
COVID Cases Jump By A Third As College Students Return To Classes
(Bloomberg News)
New CDC Guidelines May Make Back To School Harder
(Science News)
FDA Authorizes Pfizer and Moderna’s Updated COVID-19 Boosters Targeting Omicron
(New York Times)
A Simple Rule For Planning Your Fall COVID Booster
(The Atlantic)
The Growing Evidence That COVID-19 Is Leaving People Sicker
(Financial Times)
US Life Expectancy Drops For Second Consecutive Year
(NPR)
There’s Some Good News In The Battle Against Long COVID
(The Guardian)
New Data Show That Long COVID May Be Keeping As Many As Four Million Americans Out Of Work
(Brookings.edu)
Unraveling The Interplay Of Omicron, Reinfections And Long COVID
(Kaiser Health News)
How To Get Free COVID Delivered From USPS Before Program Ends On Friday
(CNBC)
COVID Death Rates Aren’t Falling Any Further. Why?
(Vox)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
US Reports At Least 31 Monkeypox Cases Among Children
(ABC News)
Texas Reports First Death In US Tied To Monkeypox
(STAT News)
WHO: Monkeypox Outbreak Can Be Eliminated In Europe
(Reuters)
Ten Key Questions About Monkeypox The World Needs To Answer
(STAT News)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 24, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,996,454 (9069). Total Deaths: 21,342 (+57) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9933 (+31). Currently Active –24 (-9). 14 day incidence average 9.6/ 100,000 (last week, 12.9).
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, 2022.
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 – 95,537,994 (+668,058)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,066,416 (+3329)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 602,802,806 (+5,482,476)
Deaths: 6,477,191 (+16,839)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

MONKEYPOX CASE COUNTS
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In The USA: 15,909 (+3,220)
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In MA: 265 (+37)
Source and More Data: CDC Map And US Case Count For Monkey Pox

COVID NEWS
Mass Health Leaders Call For Stepped Up COVID Plans For Fall and Winter
(Boston Globe)
How Soon Can You Get Reinfected With Omicron BA.5?
(Entertainment Times)
Is BA.5 The Reinfection Wave?
(The Atlantic)
Updated COVID Vaccines Could Be Available Next Month
(CNN)
Biden Administration Plans For New COVID Booster Campaign Soon After Labor Day
(New York Times)
Researchers Are Working On A New COVID-19 Rapid Immunity Test
(Time)
Long COVID is Keeping 2-4 Million Americans Out Of Work
(The Guardian)
Most People With COVID-19 Are Still Infectious After Five Days
(New Scientist)
America’s Fall Booster Plan Has A Fatal Paradox
(The Atlantic)
Paxlovid Reduces Risk Of Death From COVID-19 By 81% Study Shows
(Jerusalem Post)
Life Expectancy Dropped In Every US State In 2020 Primarily Due To COVID
(ABC News)
Could Tiny Blood Clots Cause Long COVID’s Puzzling Symptoms?
(Nature)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
How To Protect Against Monkeypox As School Starts
(New York Times)
As Threats Of COVID and Monkeypox Loom, College Students Hope For A Fresh Start
(WHYY)
US Monkeypox Cases May Be Peaking
(Reuters)
Racial Disparities Have Marked Monkeypox Vaccine Rollout
(New York TImes)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 17, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,987,385 (9882). Total Deaths: 21,285 (+61) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9902 (+3). Currently Active –33 (-13). 14 day incidence average 12.9/ 100,000 (last week, 14.2).
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, 2022.
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 – 94,869,936 (+521,429)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,063,087 (+2332)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 597,320,330 (+4,627,570)
Deaths: 6,460,352 (+13,413)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

MONKEYPOX CASE COUNTS
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In The USA: 12,689 (+2,297)
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In MA: 228 (+54)
Source and More Data: CDC Map And US Case Count For Monkey Pox

COVID NEWS
Masks, COVID Testing, No Longer Required For Massachusetts Schools
(WJAR)
Schools Move Away From Masks While Studies Point To Their Efficacy
(Boston Globe)
First Lady Jill Biden Tests Positive For COVID-19
(CNN)
Marshall Islands, Once Nearly COVID Free, Confronts An Outbreak
(New York Times)
Heart Disease After COVID
(Nature)
Blood Abnormalities Found In People With Long COVID
(Science)
COVID-19 May Have Long Term Effects On The Brain
(Time)
Neurological and Psychiatric Risk After SARS CoV2 Infection
(The Lancet)
How Many Times Can You Get COVID-19?
(Cleveland Clinic)
Yale Researchers Gain New Insight Into Long COVID And How To Treat It
(Fortune)
Opinion: The CDC Loosened Its COVID Rules. Who Fills In The Public Health Vacuum?
(Los Angeles Times)
The Pandemic’s Soft Closing. CDC Guidelines Are Suggesting Pandemic Is Done
(The Atlantic)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
Monkeypox Explained: Transmission, Symtoms, Vaccines and Treatment
(Scientific American)
How Colleges Are Preparing For The New Public Health Threat, Monkeypox
(NPR)
Why Monkeypox Is A Repeat Of The Data Mistakes Made With COVID-19
(Vox)
Opinion: Monkeypox Is About To Become The Next Public Health Failure
(New York Times)
WHO Plans To Rename Monkeypox Over Stigmatization Concerns
(NBC News)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 10, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,977,503 (10,584). Total Deaths: 21,224 (+97) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9899 (+53). Currently Active –46 (-5). 14 day incidence average 14.2/ 100,000 (last week, 15.6).
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, 2022.
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 – 94,348,507 (+755,293)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,060,755 (+3516)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 592,647,760 (+6,977,546)
Deaths: 6,446,939 (+18,363)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

MONKEYPOX CASE COUNTS
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In The USA: 10,392 (+3,775)
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In MA: 174 (+40)
Source and More Data: CDC Map And US Case Count For Monkey Pox

COVID NEWS
New Study Based On Massachusetts Schools Finds That Masks Protected Students, Staff From COVID-19
(Boston Globe)
CDC Ends Recommendations For Social Distancing and Quarantine For COVID-19 Control
(CNN)
The Public Is Giving Up On COVID-19 Precautions
(Annenberg Public Policy Center)
What Precautions Should Families Take As Children Head Back To School?
(CNN)
Omicron Sub-variant BA.2.75 (Centaurus) May Cause New Wave Of Infection
(Mint)
Study: In Class College COVID Spread Rare Among Public Health Mandates
(CIDRAP)
Long COVID Treatments. Why The World Is Still Waiting
(Nature)
Pandemic Deepened Countries’ Political Divisions
(Bloomberg)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
Limited Vaccine Availability Limiting Massachusetts Monkeypox Strategy
(NBC Boston)
US Surpasses 10,000 Monkeypox Cases
(Axios)
FDA Authorizes Change In How Monkeypox Vaccine Is Given To Stretch Supply
(CNN)
Monkeypox: What You Need To Know
(Yale Medicine)
Rightwing Media Embraces AIDS-era Homophobia In Monkeypox Coverage
(The Guardian)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY AUGUST 3, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,966,919. Total Deaths: 21,127 (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9846 (+39). Currently Active –51 (-1). 14 day incidence average 15.6/ 100,000 (last week, 16.9).
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, 2022.
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 – 93,593,214 (+1,099,196)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,057,239 (+4304)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 585,650,667 (+8,129,995)
Deaths: 6,428,576 (+20,422)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

MONKEYPOX CASE COUNTS
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In The USA: 6617
Total Confirmed Cases Of Monkey Pox In MA: 134
Source and More Data: CDC Map And US Case Count For Monkey Pox

COVID NEWS:
Updated COVID-19 Boosters Expected In September. Will It Be Too Late?
(CNN)
CDC Expected To Ease COVID-19 Recommendations Including Schools This Week
(CNN)
Germany Expecting New Wave Of COVID Infections This Fall. Announces New COVID Measures
(CNBC)
COVID Hospitalizations Have Doubled Since May As Omicron BA-5 Variant Sweeps US
(CNBC)
COVID-19 Deaths: US Stuck In Horrible Plateau
(USA Today)
America Is All Too Happy To Let People Die
(Time)
Biden Still Testing Positive For COVID-19 Following Paxlovid Rebound Diagnosis
(CNN)
Heart Disease After COVID-19
(Nature)
Am I Going To Get COVID Again? Here’s What To Know About Reinfection
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
Another Way COVID-19 Is Dodging Our Immunity
(The Atlantic)
How Virus Hunters Are Preparing For The Next Pandemic
(Time)
How Misinformation About COVID Vaccines and Pregnancy Took Root Early On And Why It Won’t Go Away
(ProPublica)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
US Declares Monkeypox A Public Health Emergency
(New York Times)
Monkeypox Is A Global Health Emergency. What To Know
(Medical News Today)
A Worldwide Monkeypox Outbreak
(Vox)
How America Is Screwing Up Its Response To Monkeypox
(Vox)
How Does Monkeypox Spread? What You Need To Know About Transmission
(Time)
What To Know About Monkeypox and Smallpox Vaccines
(CNET)
Texas Universities Urged To Prepare For Monkeypox Outbreaks
(Texas Tribune)

UPDATE Wednesday JULY 27, as of 8 AM

Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 1,955,844. (+11,075) Total Deaths: 21,176 (+49) (MA revised their COVID death counts the week of 3/9, removing from the records nearly 4000 deaths previously attributed to COVID).
Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –9807. Currently Active –52. 14 day incidence average 16.9/ 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, 2022.
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 – 92,494,018
Confirmed Deaths – 1,052,935
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 577,520,672
Deaths: 6,408,154 Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

COVID NEWS:
COVID cases rising In Massachusetts Again.
(WBUR)
COVID Pandemic In Massachusetts Is Not Going Away
(Boston Globe)
New Data Suggests CDC’s Guidance To Isolate For Only Five Days After Positive COVID Test Is Wrong
(Fortune)
How Long Is COVID Infectious. What Scientists Know So Far
(Nature)
A New COVID Wave Is Here, Raising The Risk Of Reinfections
(Science Friday)
COVID Origin Studies Point To Wuhan Market
(BBC)
How Is The Omicron Variant Different From Other COVID Strains?
(CBS News)
BA Variant Is Now Dominant In US As Infections Rise
(BMJ)
New COVID Variants Are Dominating. And We Can Do More To Prevent Them
(LA Times)
Five Ways To Stay Safe From The Current BA-5 Surge
(New York Times)
Endemic COVID-19 Looks Pretty Brutal
(New York Times)
Boosters Targeting Omicron May Be Available This Fall
(NPR)
More Than 50 Long-term Effects Of COVID -19. A Systematic Review And Meta-analysis
(Nature)
More Than 40% Of Parents Of Young Children Say They Will Not Get Their Kids Vaccinated For COVID
(CNN)

MONKEYPOX NEWS
US Leads The World In Known Monkeypox Cases
(BBC)
WHO Declares Monkeypox A Global Health Emergency
(New York Times)
Monkeypox Spreading In Texas. Here’s What You Need To Know Aboout Symptoms and Treatment
(Texas Tribune)
Monkeypox Explained: Symptoms, Treatment, And Common Questions
(USA Today)
How To Get Vaccinated, Tested, And Treated For Monkeypox
(New York Times)
Experts Say US Response To Monkeypox Has Been Woefully Inadequate
(Scientific American)