Springfield sees another weekly decline in new COVID cases among residents, marking 5th consecutive week

Springfield COVID-19 statistics for Sept. 12 -- Oct. 23.

SPRINGFIELD -- While the decline was small last week, Springfield reported that new cases of COVID-19 dropped for the fifth consecutive week among residents last week, but with an “alarming” number of young children too young for vaccinations.

There were 254 new coronavirus cases among Springfield resident last week, Oct.17-23. as compared to 258 cases the week before, Oct. 10-16, city officials said. That number, however, included 71 children ages 10 and under, said Helen R. Caulton-Harris, the city’s commissioner of health and human services.

“The data for the 0-10 year olds is particularly alarming because they are not eligible to be vaccinated,” Caulton-Harris said by email. “Parents please protect your children, if you are not vaccinated, please consider the health of your family. Most of the cases we are following are from household/family transmissions.”

Massachusetts is expecting to get an initial shipment of 360,000 doses of pediatric vaccine against COVID-19 by the first week of November, for children ages 5 to 11 who could become eligible.

The COVID-19 cases among Springfield residents has declined weekly since reaching a high of 886 new cases the week of Sept. 12, officials said.

“I urge our residents to continue to take the public health precautions necessary to stay healthy,” Caulton-Harris said.

Of the 254 new cases reported last week, 59% were ages 30 and under continuing a trend of younger people being infected, according to the city statistics.

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno joined Caulton-Harris in urging residents to be vigilant in taking precautions against COVID-19.

“As our COVID-19 cases continue to steadily decrease and our vaccination rates slowly increase, we must remain vigilant if we are to keep this trend going, especially as we get ready to celebrate with family and friends during the holiday season,” Sarno said.

He added, by email, that residents should “double down and redouble our efforts to please get those unvaccinated vaccinated ASAP!,” and for people to also get booster shots as soon as possible.

“We must continue to quickly increase our vaccination rates to turn back this COVID-19 pandemic fully,” Sarno said.

Sarno added his advice that people should also get flu shots and shingles shots when age appropriate.

As of Sunday, Baystate Health reported that it had 50 hospitalized patients with confirmed cases of COVID-19 infection, continuing a general trend of reduced cases in recent weeks. Of the 50 patients, 37 were at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield, and the balance at Baystate’s community hospitals in the region. Eight patients were in critical care.

There were 66 patients hospitalized with COVID as of Oct. 17, at Baystate Health.

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