December 3, 2021 By Carol Britton Meyer
Hingham is experiencing an uptick in new COVID‐19 cases.
"The Massachusetts Department of Public Health [reported] 44 new COVID‐19 cases during the 14‐day period ending Nov. 25, compared to 38 cases over the two‐week period ending Nov. 18," Town Administrator Tom Mayo reported to the Select Board Wednesday night. "Despite this being a 16 percent increase, more recent numbers from the last few days indicate that the uptick is much more significant than these numbers reflect."
Due to the "lag in reporting," that significant increase may not be represented in reports for another week or two, according to Mayo.
In light of this significant increase, residents are reminded to continue to take precautions to protect themselves and others from COVID‐19.
Public health protocols to prevent the spread of the virus include wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, and washing hands frequently, among other measures.
The current overall vaccination rate for Hingham is 75 percent. "If you look at only vaccine‐eligible individuals in Hingham (which now includes children ages 5 and over), the percent of fully vaccinated eligible residents is 80 percent," Mayo said.
According to MDPH statistics, approximately 47 percent of Hingham children ages 5 to 11 have received one dose of the COVID‐19 vaccine, up from 6 percent two weeks ago.
The Hingham Health Department is seeking guidance from the MDPH about the steps that would be necessary to host local vaccine clinics.
"If we are able to provide such a clinic, it would be at least two weeks from now," Mayo said. "We’ll keep the public informed as soon as we know more."
I saw today the WHO said this Ominicron variant is in 38 countries but there have been no deaths, which is great news. If it spreads like wildfire and it’s mild symptoms as reported it’s like a free vaccine. Omnicron may immunize the entire population and this may be over God willing. Imagine how pissed Dr. Fauci will be.