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WESTFORD — Westford’s coronavirus cases have decreased week over week according to data published by the Department of Public Health on Thursday.
Between Jan. 8 and Jan. 21, 36 positive cases have been reported in Westford. In those two weeks, Westford reported 37 positive tests, with 11.71% of 316 tests returning positive.
100,042 total tests have been administered in Westford since the pandemic began.
A total of 5,378 total cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Westford as of Jan. 26. The state has reported over 2 million total cases of COVID-19, reporting 12,598 cases in the last two weeks. 10.5% of the total 136,985 tests administered, or 14,383 tests, have returned positive.
As of Jan. 24, 84 of the 97 intensive care unit beds remain occupied in Northeastern Massachusetts, while 938 of the 956 medical and surgical beds remain occupied in the region.
As of Jan. 26, Middlesex County has reported 2,625 positive cases in the last two week period between Jan. 8 and Jan. 21. 10.25%, or 2,971 of 28,993 total tests returned positive in the county.
In the last two weeks, Middlesex County has reported 64 confirmed and probable deaths, while the state has reported 305 confirmed and probable deaths.
Federal public health emergency to end
The Biden Administration plans to allow coronavirus public health emergency expire in May, the White House said in a statement on Monday.
“An abrupt end to the emergency declarations would create wide-ranging chaos and uncertainty throughout the health care system — for states, for hospitals and doctors’ offices, and, most importantly, for tens of millions of Americans,” the statement says, calling the bills a “grave disservice to the American people.”
Officials believe the pandemic is moving to a less dire phase, with increased immunity through infection, vaccination and treatments.
Ending the emergency declaration may have implications for federal funding for tests, vaccinations and treatments. New charges for tests and treatments will vary depending on if Americans have private insurance, Medicare coverage, Medicaid coverage or no insurance.
Vaccines and treatments will continue to be covered for those with private insurance or Medicare or Medicaid coverage, uninsured Americans may have to pay out of pocket for treatments like Paxlovid, an antiviral pill.
The public health emergency is set to expire on May 11.
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