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WESTFORD — Westford’s coronavirus cases have increased slightly week over week according to data published by the Department of Public Health on Thursday.
Between Dec. 11 and Dec. 24, 54 positive cases have been reported in Westford. In those two weeks, Westford reported 55 positive tests, with 10.58% of 520 tests returning positive.
99,343 total tests have been administered in Westford since the pandemic began.
A total of 5,273 total cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Westford as of Dec. 29. The state has reported over 1.96 million total cases of COVID-19, reporting 17,708 cases in the last two weeks. 9.92% of the total 195,719 tests administered, or 19,423 tests, have returned positive.
As of Dec. 27, 83 of the 95 intensive care unit beds remain occupied in Northeastern Massachusetts, while 910 of the 928 medical and surgical beds remain occupied in the region.
As of Dec. 29, Middlesex County has reported 4,004 positive cases in the last two week period between Dec. 11 and Dec. 24. 9.77%, or 4,321 of 44,236 total tests returned positive in the county.
In the last two weeks, Middlesex County has reported 37 confirmed and probable deaths, while the state has reported 211 confirmed and probable deaths.
New strain dominant in New England
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 40% of confirmed U.S. COVID-19 cases are caused by the new subvariant.
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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