Reported coronavirus cases continue to decline

The local communities covered are: Attleboro, Foxboro, Mansfield, Norfolk, North Attleboro, Norton, Plainville, Rehoboth, Seekonk and Wrentham.

Statewide, the number of reported cases fell from 713 to 676, a decrease of 37, or 5.19%. That’s the fourth consecutive week the number has been under 1,000, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Overall, reported cases have dropped 10 consecutive weeks statewide from 4,999 to 676 cases, which is a decrease of over 86%.

The number of actual COVID-19 cases in the area and state, however, is likely higher than the reported number because of the prevalence of home-testing kits. Not all the positive cases found through home-testing are reported to health officials. Also, many people who become ill with COVID-like symptoms — fever, congestion, sneezing, fatigue, body aches, and headaches — don’t bother testing anymore as the virus has weakened and the symptoms caused by the virus are less severe.

In Mansfield, Norfolk and Wrentham, there were no reported cases. In Attleboro and Seekonk, there was only one each.

There were 438 coronavirus tests administered by health officials in the 10 area communities with 16 positives, or 3.65%, nearly a point lower than last week.

For context, the highest number of 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 50,738 cases. That’s just over 25% of the 200,793 population in the 10 communities.

Percentages of the disease in each community range from 23% to 29% and the average is 24.65%

In the week ending March 30, the reported case count in each of the 10 communities was as follows:

• Attleboro, 1
• Foxboro, 3
• Mansfield, 0
• Norfolk, 0
• North Attleboro, 5
• Norton, 2
• Plainville, 2
• Rehoboth, 2
• Seekonk, 1
• Wrentham, 0.

Statewide, the number was 676 confirmed cases with 177 probable cases for a total statewide of 2,149,300 confirmed and probable cases since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide was 3 and the number of probable deaths was 0.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 is 23,431, and the number of confirmed and probable deaths is 29,937.

A poll for the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle was taken recently 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 as follows:

• 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, with the majority being people over 80.

In the Attleboro area it’s 3.65%.

Emergency room visits nationwide were down 21.1% since Feb. 3.

Hospital admissions for coronavirus are down 13.9% nationwide since Feb. 3.

And deaths nationwide are down 16.7% since Feb. 3.

The percentage rate for all deaths nationwide is 1.5%.

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