CORONAVIRUS

New Bedford COVID-19 cases continue to climb, Fairhaven sees sharp increase in cases

Linda Roy
Standard-Times

COVID-19 cases continue to rise in New Bedford compared to previous weeks. New Bedford’s number of positive new cases is the highest since April 29 when 258 positive new cases were reported. The Sept. 16 report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health showed 341 new COVID-19 cases in the city.  

According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health as of Sept. 16, the following cities and towns have reported new positive COVID-19 cases over the past week:  

  • Acushnet: 31 (compared to 34 the week before) 
  • Dartmouth: 99 (compared to 93 the week before) 
  • Fairhaven: 42 (compared to 26 the week before)  
  • New Bedford: 341 (compared to 236 the week before) 

In comparison to data from the Sept. 9 report, cases have increased in each city or town except for Acushnet. Fairhaven’s numbers shot up this week with 42 new cases, compared with 26 new cases just the week before. Acushnet’s increase dropped to 31 new cases. 

Cases of COVID in Greater New Bedford schools 

According to a report by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, one student and five staff members at New Bedford Public Schools have contracted COVID in the past week.   

Other local school districts reporting COVID cases: 

  • Acushnet: three students, zero staff 
  • Dartmouth: five students, two staff 
  • Fairhaven: three students, zero staff 
  • Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical: 13 students, zero staff 
Two ER put on their protective gear before speaking with a newly admitted patient in the Emergency Room at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford. The patient is placed in a sealed room, and approached with the same gear as one infected with COVID-19, until it is established that he/she does not have it.

Vaccination rates  

New Bedford continues to have the lowest vaccination rates in the Greater New Bedford region, with 54,118 individuals partially vaccinated and 46,442 fully vaccinated out of the total 99,980 population. 

According to state data as of Sept. 16, the following cities and towns have reported rates of partially and fully vaccinated residents in comparison to total population. Fully vaccinated individuals are two weeks out from receiving either the second dose or the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen one-dose vaccine.  

Acushnet  

  • Individuals with at least one dose: 61%  
  • Fully vaccinated individuals: 56%  

Dartmouth  

  • Individuals with at least one dose: 57%  
  • Fully vaccinated individuals: 59%  

Fairhaven  

  • Individuals with at least one dose: 66%  
  • Fully vaccinated individuals: 59%  

New Bedford  

  • Individuals with at least one dose: 54% 
  • Fully vaccinated individuals: 46% 

Hospitalizations  

According to state data as of Sept. 15, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford has a total of 22 confirmed COVID-19 hospitalizations including ICU. The hospital has a total of 6 confirmed COVID-19 ICU Census.  

Vaccine clinics schedule in New Bedford: 

Friday, September 17:  

  • Ashley Park (Rivet St. & Bolton St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J 
  • Loretta Bourque Park (Ruth St. & Ashley St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J   

Saturday, September 18:  

  • Riverside Park (Belleville Ave.) – 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer 
  • Ashley Park (Rivet St. & Bolton St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J    

Sunday, September 19:  

  • Ashley Park (Rivet St. & Bolton St.) – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer and J&J    

Monday, September 20:  

  • Andrea McCoy Rec Center – 2 p.m. to 7 p.m., Pfizer 

Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roy can be reached at lroy@s-t.com. You can follow her on Twitter at @LindaRoy_SCT. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times.