NEW BEDFORD – The rate of increase in COVID-19 infections continues to decline in New Bedford and surrounding towns. Infection rates among students and school staff are also falling. Hospitalizations were also down from the previous week.
The Feb. 3 report from the state Department of Public Health showed New Bedford had a total of 31,808 total reported cases. The infection rate is down 840 cases from last week.
New Bedford’s vaccination rates increased slightly, while surrounding towns’ vaccination rates remained virtually unchanged.
According to MDPH data as of February 3, the following cities and towns reported the difference in new positive COVID-19 cases since the previous week’s report:
- Acushnet: 57 (against 105 the previous week)
- Dartmouth: 196 (against 412 the previous week)
- fairhaven: 79 (against 165 the previous week)
- New Bedford: 639 (against 1,479 the previous week)
COVID Cases in Greater New Bedford Schools
Here are the numbers from the January 27-February 2, 2022 report from the State Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
- New Bedford Public Schools: 32 students, 5 staff (215 students, 60 staff the previous week)
- Greater New Bedford Regional Vocational Technical: 104 students, 8 staff (104 students, 8 staff the previous week)
- Acushnet: 13 students, 1 staff (16 students, 3 staff the previous week)
- Dartmouth: 49 students, 10 staff (87 students, 6 staff the previous week)
- fairhaven: 24 students, 3 staff (56 students, 7 staff the previous week)
Vaccination rate
New Bedford’s vaccination rates as of February 3 stood at 65,359 partially vaccinated and 55,732 fully vaccinated out of a total population of 99,980.
Acushnet
- People who received at least one dose: 71%
- Fully Vaccinated: 64%
- Boosted: 31%
Dartmouth
- People who received at least one dose: 65%
- Fully Vaccinated: 58%
- Boosted: 30%
fairhaven
- People who received at least one dose: 77%
- Fully Vaccinated: 68%
- Boosted: 36%
New Bedford
- People who received at least one dose: 66%
- Fully Vaccinated: 56%
- Boosted: 21%
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Vaccination rates for children aged 5 to 11
New Bedford
- Children with at least one dose: 21%
- Fully immunized children: 14%
Acushnet
- Children with at least one dose: 24%
- Fully immunized children: 19%
Dartmouth
- Children with at least one dose: 28%
- Fully vaccinated children: 22%
fairhaven
- Children with at least one dose: 33%
- Fully immunized children: 25%
Hospitalizations
According to state data as of Feb. 2, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford has a total of 37 confirmed hospitalizations for COVID-19, including intensive care. The hospital has a total of 2 confirmed COVID-19 intensive care censuses. There were 63 confirmed cases and 8 intensive care counts for the previous week.
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Local vaccination clinics
NOTE: All minors require parental consent, provided either in advance online or in person at school or where Pfizer for 12+ is offered.
Saturday February 5:
Andrea McCoy Recreation Center (181 Hillman St.) – 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, vaccines for kids ages 5-11, boosters for teens ages 12-17
Sunday February 6:
Workers Community Center / Centro Comunitario de Trabajadores (1534 Acushnet Ave.) – 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, J&J, boosters, pediatric vaccines for children ages 5-11, boosters for teens ages 12- 17 years
Keith Middle School (225 Hathaway Boulevard) – 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Pfizer, Moderna, boosters, vaccines for kids ages 5-11, boosters for teens ages 12-17
To schedule a home vaccination with the New Bedford Health Department, call the department’s main line, 508-991-6199, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Standard-Times digital producer Linda Roy can be reached at lroy@st.com You can follow her on Twitter at @LindaRoy_TBS. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to the Standard-Times.