Reported coronavirus cases rise slightly in Attleboro area

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

Statewide, the number of reported cases fell to 629, from 676 — a decrease of 47 cases. That’s a drop of 6.95%.

That’s the fifth consecutive week the number of reported cases has been under 1,000.

Overall reported cases have dropped 10 consecutive weeks statewide from 4,999 to 629 cases, which is a decrease of 87.41%.

In Norfolk, North Attleboro, Seekonk and Wrentham there was only one reported case in each community.

There were 417 coronavirus tests administered in the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle, with 20 positives, a percentage of 4.79% which is 1.14 points higher than last week. That’s a decrease of 21 tests, which equals 4.79%.

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.

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 50,758 cases. That’s 25.27% of the 200,793 population in the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle.

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

In the week ending April 6, the reported case counts in each of the 10 communities was:

• Attleboro, 3
• Foxboro, 2
• Mansfield, 4
• Norfolk, 1
• North Attleboro, 1
• Norton, 2
• Plainville, 2
• Rehoboth, 3
• Seekonk, 1
• Wrentham, 1

Statewide, the number of reported cases was 629 confirmed with 206 probable for a total statewide of 2,150,135 confirmed and probable cases since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide was eight and the number of probable deaths was one.

The number of confirmed deaths statewide since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020 is 23,439, and the number of confirmed and probable deaths is 29,945.

A poll for the 10 communities covered by The Sun Chronicle was taken recently and the total number of deaths from COVID-19 for the area 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, with the majority being people over 80.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the rate of positive tests for coronavirus nationwide is 3.5% as of March 30. In the Attleboro area it’s 4.79%.

Nationwide, emergency room visits sparked by the virus were down 14.5% as of March 30.

Hospital admissions for coronavirus are down 15.3% nationwide as of March 30.

And deaths caused by the virus nationwide are down 20% as of March 30. The percentage rate for all deaths nationwide is 1.2%.

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