Updated on December 11, 2020 at 5:10 pm
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Massachusetts reported 5,475 new confirmed coronavirus cases Friday and an additional 47 deaths.
There have now been 11,010 confirmed deaths and 269,929 cases, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another 247 deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19.
The percentage of coronavirus tests coming back positive, on average, remains at 5.7%, according to the report.
The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has slightly decreased to 1,605. Of that number, 309 were listed as being in intensive care units and 165 are intubated, according to DPH.
Friday s report comes as coronavirus cases also continue to rise in Bay State schools, with 923 more cases reported this week.
Dec 11, 2020
NEWBURYPORT â An Anna Jaques Hospital official said on Thursday the Highland Avenue complex is expected to receive its first shipment of the highly anticipated Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine as early as next week.Â
The announcement comes on the same day the federal Food and Drug Administration was expected to give emergency authorization for the two-dose coronavirus vaccine. Within hours of the expected authorization, the vaccine will be distributed across the country under the federal government s Operation Warp Speed initiative.Â
Anna Jaques staff will be prepared to help vaccinate the community and support the vaccine distribution process as long as is necessary.Â
As one of only two towns on Cape Cod with a public health nurse, the Town of Sandwich has been approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a distribution site for the COVID-19 vaccine.
Details as to when the town will be able to vaccinate people, the location of the vaccination site, and how many doses will be sent to the town are still being worked out. However, the contract between the town and the CDC, as well as with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, has been signed.
Town nurse Joanne Geake said she expects that the Town of Barnstable will also be applying for the ability to distribute vaccines within its villages and that the Visiting Nurse Association of Cape Cod will handle the remaining towns.