COVID-19 Weekly Update Archive For The Month Of September, 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 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, July 2022, August 2022
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Numbers in parentheses indicate increase or decrease in count from previous Wednesday.

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, September 28, 2022 as of 8 AM
Massachusetts: As of 9/26, the New York Times COVID tracker and COVID ActNow no longer report raw case counts and instead report counts/100,000, as well as hospital admission rates and vaccination rates. These are better indicators of the state of the pandemic than raw counts, especially since reporting of cases has become so unreliable, and we’ll be reporting them henceforth. Nonetheless, it’s useful to know that as of 9/21 there had been 2,030,335 cases of COIVD recorded in Massachusetts and 21, 588 deaths.

MA newly reported cases /100k. 149.0. Hospitalizations/ 100k: 12.5. Fully Vaccinated: 81%. with booster: 44% Community risk level: Medium

Amherst: Total Confirmed Cases in Amherst –10,262 (189). Currently Active –69 (-22). 14 day incidence average 15.6/100,000 (last week, 8.2). (numbers in parentheses indicate change from 9/14).
Amherst Public Schools: Amherst Regional Public Schools have not posted new COVID data since June 18, 2022. Total cases, January 1, 2022 – June 18, 2022: 999.

UMass: UMass has not maintained a dashboard or posted campus COVID data since May 10, 2022
Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – May 10, 2022. – 4607.

Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges

USA And The World
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases in USA – 97,991,494 (+369,808)
Confirmed Deaths USA – 1,082,286 (+3080)
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 621,406,269 (+3,169,245)
Deaths: 6,543,316 (+9446)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

COVID NEWS
So You Haven’t Caught COVID Yet. Does That Mean You’re Immune?
(NPR)
Why Some People Don’t Get COVID
(Wired)
Rising COVID Case Counts In UK May Be A Warning For US
(CNN)
CDC Tracking Three New COVID Variants
(CBS News)
What We Know About The BA 2.75.2 Variant. The Most Resistant To Date
(Time)
COVID Vaccines Linked To Slight, Temporary Change In Menstrual Cycle
(New York TImes)
Lingering Cardiac Involvement In People Previously Well After Mild COVID Infection
(Nature)
Juvenile Type 1 Diabetes Associated With COVID-19 Infection In Children Case Western Study Finds
(Cleveland.com)
Connecticut Schools Report Four Times More COVID Cases This Year
(ctinsider.com)
Philadelphia Parents Are Making DIY Air Purifiers For Philly Schools. They Want One In Every City Classroom.
(Philadelphia Inquirer)
What We Know About Long COVID So Far
(Medscape)
Canada Dropping COVID Border Restrictions
(BBC)
These Scientists Traced A New Lineage Of COVID To One Office Through Sewage
(Nature)
Long COVID Has Forced Scientists To Take Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Seriously
(The Atlantic)
Hundreds Of Americans Will Die From COVID Today. Is This What The New Normal Looks Like?
(The Atlantic)
The End Of COVID Is Still Far Worse Than Imagined
(The Atlantic)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, September 21, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 2,030,335 (+9004). Total Deaths: 21,588 (+52) (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 –10,073 (+91). Currently Active –91 (+58). 14 day incidence average 8.2/ 100,000 (last week, 7.3). Note: the dashboard has not been updated since 9/14. These are last week’s figures.
UMass: UMass has not maintained a dashboard or posted campus COVID data since May 10, 2022
Cumulative Positive Cases: 2565 through May 15, 2021. Cumulative Positive Cases Beginning September 1, 2021 – MAY 10, 2022. – 4607. No new data since May 10, 2022.
Amherst Public Schools: Amherst Regional Public Schools have not posted new COVID data since June 18, 2022.
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 Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 97,594,686 (+393,980)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,079,206 (+2,863)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 618,273,024 (+3,165,299)
Deaths: 6,533,870 (+12,564)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

COVID NEWS
The New COVID Boosters Are Amazing News
(New York Times)
Biden Says The Pandemic Is Over But At Least 400 Americans Are Dying Daily
(New York Times)
BIden Said The Pandemic Is Over. Is it?
(BU Today)
Biden Is Wrong. The COVID-19 Pandemic Is Not Over
(Time)
Biden’s Comments About Pandemic Widen US Public Spilt Over How US Should Respond To COVID-19
(CNN)
COVID-19 Will Be The Leading Cause Of Death In The US Indefinitely Whether Or Not The Pandemic Is Over
(NBC News)
COVID Still Kills But The Demographics Of Its Victims Is Shifting
(Kaiser Health News)
Just In Time In Time For Fall There’s A Brand New COVID-19 Variant Making Headway In The US
(Fortune)
One In Four Symptomatic Children Get Long COVID
(Euronews)
Scientists Warn Of Spike In Long COVID Cases Across The US
(The Daily Beast)
New Alzheimers Diagnoses More Common Among Seniors Who Had COVID-19
(CNN)
COVID Raises Risk Of Long Term Brain Injury Large US Study Finds
(Reuters)
The Lancet Commission Of Lessons For The Future From The COVID-19 Pandemic
(The Lancet)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, September 14, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 2,021,331 (+7339). Total Deaths: 21,536 (+73) (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 –10,073 (+91). Currently Active –91 (+58). 14 day incidence average 8.2/ 100,000 (last week, 7.3).
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: Cases Since September 1: 17
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 Amherst Public Schools – ARPS Dashboard
Sources for Amherst Area Schools and Colleges.
Source for Massachusetts: NYT Daily Dashboard
Confirmed Cases in USA – 97,200,706 (+484,133)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,076,343 (+3,048)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 615,107,725 (+3,507,9011)
Deaths: 6,521,306 (+13,427)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

COVID NEWS
WHO: End Of COVID Pandemic In Sight
(The Guardian)
COVID Cases Spike On Campus At Semester’s Start
(Inside Higher Education)
Here Are The Expected Side Effects From Omicron-specific COVID-19 Booster
(CNBC)
Here’s What We Know About The New Omicron Sub-variant BA 4.6
(The Conversation)
Critical Pediatric Neurological Illness In Taiwan Associated With COVID Omicron Variant BA 2.3.7
(International Journal Of Infectious Diseases)
At Least 17 Million People In Europe Suffered From Long COVID In First Two Years Of Pandemic
(CNBC)
The Landmines Long COVID Leaves Behind
(Boston Globe)
Brain Fog: One Of Long COVID’s Worst Symptoms Is Also Among Its Least Understood
(The Atlantic)
What Is Brain Fog And How Can I Treat It?
(New York Times)
So You Haven’t Caught COVID. Does That Mean You’re Immune?
(NPR)
A Simple Surgical Mask Modification To Achieve N-95 Equivalent Fit
(PLOS One)
We Are Failing To Use What We’ve Learned About COVID-19
(Medscape)

UPDATE WEDNESDAY, September 7, 2022 as of 8 AM
Total Confirmed Cases in MA – 2,013,992 (+8742). Total Deaths: 21,463 (+73) (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 –9982 (+31). Currently Active –33 (+9). 14 day incidence average 7.3/ 100,000 (last week, 7.8).
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 – 96,716,573 (+567,477)
Confirmed Deaths – 1,073,295 (+3,547)
Source: Worldometers 
Confirmed Cases Worldwide: 611,599,824 (+4,102,069)
Deaths: 6,507,879 (+14,931)
Source: Worldometers see also: Johns
Hopkins University.

COVID NEWS
Updated COVID-19 Boosters Are Now Available
(PBS)
What You Need To Know About The New Omicron Booster Shots
(Science News)
Is COVID Winding Down? Scientists Say No
(Seattle Times)
As Students Return To Campus, Colleges Are Reporting Record-High Numbers Of COVID Cases
(Inside Higher Education)
COVID Cases Have Tripled During First Week Of Term In Chicago Schools Compared To Last Year
(ABC News)
Long COVID Knocks Young Workers Out Of The Job Market
(ABC News)
Long Term Cardiac Pathology In Patients With Initial Mild COVID Illness
(Nature)
COVID Creates Higher Risk For Rare Pediatric Health Problems New CDC Study Finds
(Fortune)
10.5 Million Children Have Lost A Parent To COVID-19
(Washington Post)
China Locks Down Major City Of Chengdu
(New York Times)
The Forthcoming Commercialization Of COVID Treatments Will Create Major Challenges
(The Atlantic)