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WESTFORD — Westford’s coronavirus cases have increased week over week according to data published by the Department of Public Health on Thursday.
Between Dec. 18 and Dec. 31, 63 positive cases have been reported in Westford. In those two weeks, Westford reported 64 positive tests, with 14.29% of 448 tests returning positive.
99,539 total tests have been administered in Westford since the pandemic began.
A total of 5,313 total cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Westford as of Jan. 5. The state has reported over 1.97 million total cases of COVID-19, reporting 18,741 cases in the last two weeks. 11.94% of the total 172,139 tests administered, or 20,548 tests, have returned positive.
As of Jan. 3, 83 of the 95 intensive care unit beds remain occupied in Northeastern Massachusetts, while 957 of the 965 medical and surgical beds remain occupied in the region.
As of Jan. 5, Middlesex County has reported 4,137 positive cases in the last two week period between Dec. 18 and Dec. 31. 11.85%, or 4,501 of 37,983 total tests returned positive in the county.
In the last two weeks, Middlesex County has reported 41 confirmed and probable deaths, while the state has reported 235 confirmed and probable deaths.
COVID-19 levels spike in Greater Boston
Middlesex County, along with Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Franklin, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties are not considered high risk. Berkshire, Essex, Hampden and Hampshire counties are still considered low risk.
The state’s seven-day average positivity rate rose to 13.39% on Thursday, marking a a dramatic uptick from 9.58% the previous week.
A number of school districts have reinstated mask advisories, including Arlington, Boston, Newton and Watertown. Westford has not issued an advisory at this time.
The XBB 1.5 subvariant of omicron has become the dominant strain of the virus in New England. The new strain is combination of two pre-existing omicron subvariants.
Experts say current evidence indicates that existing vaccines, tests and medications all appear effective against the new subvariant.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that approximately 75% of confirmed COVID-19 cases in New England are caused by the new subvariant. The variant now accounts for approximately 30% of new cases throughout the U.S.
Early data from the World Health Organization suggests those who caught COVID-19 before the original omicron wave, which hit New England in November of 2021 are more susceptible to infection from the new subvariant than those who were sickened with another omicron strain or subvariant.
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