Reported coronavirus cases continue to decline in Attleboro area and beyond

The 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle are Attleboro, North Attleboro, Plainville, Norton, Mansfield, Foxboro, Wrentham, Norfolk, Rehoboth and Seekonk.

Statewide, the number of reported cases fell to 488 reported cases from 575 — a decrease of 87 cases. That’s a drop of 15.13%.

It’s the seventh consecutive week the number of reported cases statewide has been under 1,000.

Overall, reported cases have dropped 12 consecutive weeks statewide from 4,999 to 488 cases, which is a decrease of 90.23%.

In Plainville, Rehoboth and Wrentham, there were zero cases.

There were 328 coronavirus tests administered  by health professionals in the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle, with 12 positives, which is a percentage of 3.65%, or 0.93 points lower than last week.

That’s a decrease of 43 tests, which equals 11.59%.

The number of COVID-19 cases in the area and state is not accurate and the figure is likely higher because of the prevalence of home-testing kits. Not all positive cases found through home-testing are reported to health officials. Also, many people who become ill, do not bother testing as the virus has weakened and the symptoms caused by the virus are less severe.

For context, the highest number of reported new cases statewide for one week was recorded on Jan. 14, 2022, at 132,557.

The highest number locally for one week was 3,463 recorded on Jan. 13, 2022.

All told, since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, the area has recorded 50,787 cases. That’s 25.29% of the 200,793 population in the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle.

Percentages of the disease in each community range from 22% to 29% (rounded up) and the average is 24.68%

In the week ending April 20, the case counts in each of the 10 communities was:

• Attleboro, 3
• Foxboro, 1
• Mansfield 2
• Norfolk, 2
• North Attleboro, 1
• Norton, 2
• Plainville, 0
• Rehoboth, 0
• Seekonk, 1
• Wrentham, 0

Statewide, the number was 488 confirmed cases with 157 probable cases for a total statewide of 2,151,607 confirmed and probable cases since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide was 6, and the number of probable deaths was 1.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 is 23,449 and the number of confirmed and probable deaths is 29,957.

A poll for the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle was taken and the total number of deaths was 520. That’s a death rate of 1.02%.

Death totals per community covered by The Sun Chronicle are:

• Attleboro, 199
• Foxboro, 29
• Mansfield, 44
• Norfolk, 8
• North Attleboro, 96
• Norton, 18
• Plainville, 22
• Rehoboth, 23
• Seekonk, 15
• Wrentham, 66

Most of the deaths were suffered by the elderly.

According to the state’s Department of Public Health, most deaths occur in people at or over the age of 65.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of positive tests for coronavirus nationwide was 3.0% as of April 20.

In the Attleboro area, it’s 3.65% as of April 20.

Emergency room visits nationwide were down 17.9% as of April 20. Hospital admissions for coronavirus are down 14.4% nationwide as of April 20. And deaths nationwide were down 10% as of April 20.

The percentage rate for all deaths nationwide is 1.1%.

In the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle, it’s 1.02%