WESTFORD — Westford’s coronavirus cases have decreased week over week according to data published by the Department of Public Health on Thursday.
Between March 5 and March 18, 14 positive cases have been reported in Westford. In those two weeks, Westford reported 16 positive tests, with 7.51% of 213 tests returning positive.
101,079 total tests have been administered in Westford since the pandemic began.
A total of 5,476 total cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Westford as of March 23. The state has reported over 2 million total cases of COVID-19, reporting 4,304 cases in the last two weeks. 4.47% of the total 111,354 tests administered, or 4,983 tests, have returned positive.
As of March 23, 84 of the 94 intensive care unit beds remain occupied in Northeastern Massachusetts, while 902 of the 937 medical and surgical beds remain occupied in the region.
As of March 23, Middlesex County has reported 965 positive cases in the last two week period between March 5 and March 18. 4.68%, or 1,119 of 23,849 total tests returned positive in the county.
In the last two weeks, Middlesex County has reported 17 confirmed and probable deaths, while the state has reported 102 confirmed and probable deaths.
Some COVID-19 era regulations to continue
Massachusetts lawmakers approved a spending plan Thursday to continue a number of programs originally approved at the height of the pandemic.
The $389 supplemental budget also includes $130 million to extend the enhanced Supplemental Nutrition Program benefits as the federal government ended its support for the extra money provided to low-income people during the pandemic.
The funding will provide 40% of the previous federal allotment to about 640,000 Massachusetts households over the next three months.
The bill includes $65 million to continue free school meals for all students, $45 million for emergency shelter assistance and $68 million for early education grants.
The bill also includes provisions to authorize restaurants to offer cocktails, beer and wine to-go through April 1, 2024 as well as provisions to allow governments and public bodies to continue to hold meetings remotely and in hybrid formats through March 31, 2025.
