Pittsfield COVID Rates Slightly Higher Than Thanksgiving

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — With Hanukkah underway and Christmas in a few days, the city's COVID-19 metrics are slightly higher than they were for Thanksgiving.

The city's Biobot sewage data showed a 1.1 million copies per liter virus concentration over the weekend, compared to the 1 million copies per liter concentration on Thanksgiving day.

Though the number has gone down from 1.9 million copies per liter at the beginning of the month.

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi has indicated that the sewage concentration is the truest indicator of the virus' presence in the community because the other metrics don't include at-home tests.

The average case rate on Tuesday was 24.2 cases per 100,00 people and the positivity rate was 8.1 percent. On Thanksgiving, there were 13.5 cases per 100,000 and the positivity rate was 5.7 percent.


There are around 65 estimated actively contagious cases, nearly double that of Thanksgiving, and 11 hospitalizations at Berkshire Medical center.  

On Sunday, there were 20 new cases.

The city remains in the "red zone" for transmission, having more than 10 cases per 100,000 and a positivity rate above 5 percent. It has essentially remained in this category since last year with some reprieve in the spring that put the city in the lesser "yellow zone."

The city has 65 active cases and 15,124 total cases, with 77 percent of residents fully vaccinated. There have been 91 total reported deaths but the city has not had a death related to COVID-19 since mid-October. Berkshire Health Systems has 13 patients who have tested positive. Statewide, the percentage of positive patients being treated primarily for the novel coronavirus has hovered around 30 percent. 

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Morningside Closed Friday for Flooding Cleanup

Staff Reports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Morningside Community School will be closed Friday, May 8, because of flooding in the building. 
 
According to a post on the Pittsfield Public Schools' Facebook page, a pipe that was damaged in a student bathroom caused a "large amount of water" to seep into carpets and other areas near the bathroom.
 
The post doesn't say how the pipe was damaged but that the flooding occurred shortly before dismissal on Thursday. 
 
Because of the water damaged, the school will be closed Friday so the affected spaces can be properly cleaned and dried.
 
The post states the school's custodial team will be preparing the building so students and staff can safely return on Monday, May 11, and that additional information will be posted as needed. 
 
All other schools will be open for regularly scheduled classes. 
 
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