Below, what you should know about the status of COVID-19 in Massachusetts, based on the latest statistics and information available from state public health officials:

Confirmed and probable cases: 121,707

Deaths from the virus: 8,751

Patients tested: 1,337,606

Sex

Female: 66,221

Male: 53,612

Age

<19: 7,665

20-29: 18,091

30-39: 18,588

40-49: 17,201

50-59: 19,104

60-69: 15,275

70-79: 9,971

≥80: 15,548

Cases by county:

Barnstable County: 1,803

Berkshire County: 667

Bristol County: 9,408

Dukes County: 66

Essex County: 17,930

Franklin County: 411

Hampden County: 7,637

Hampshire County: 1,184

Middlesex County: 26,565

Nantucket County: 37

Norfolk County: 10,682

Plymouth County: 9,288

Suffolk County: 22,017

Worcester County: 13,686

Unknown: 326

Monitoring and self-quarantine:

*These numbers are updated every Wednesday by state health officials.

Individuals currently under monitoring/self-quarantine: 2,852

Individuals who have completed quarantine: 72,919

Total number of people subjected to quarantine: 75,771

The decision to release someone from self-isolation is made on a case-by-case basis in consultation with doctors, infection prevention and control experts, and public health officials, according to the state, factoring in elements including disease severity, illness signs and symptoms, and results of laboratory testing for that patient:

Current CDC guidance for when it is OK to release someone from isolation is made on a case by case basis and includes meeting all of the following requirements: – The patient is free from fever without the use of fever-reducing medications.

– The patient is no longer showing symptoms, including cough.

– The patient has tested negative on at least two consecutive respiratory specimens collected at least 24 hours apart. Someone who has been released from isolation is not considered to pose a risk of infection to others.

Symptoms:


The symptoms associated with COVID-19 range from very mild, including no reported symptoms, to very severe, including death. The CDC says older people and people of all ages with severe underlying health conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, or lung disease, are at higher risk of experiencing serious complications from coronavirus.

The virus is thought to spread mainly person-to-person through respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes, similar to the flu. There is currently no vaccine to prevent COVID-19, and the only treatment is supportive, to help relieve symptoms.

The CDC says the following symptoms may appear two to 14 days after exposure to the virus:

Fever

Cough

Shortness of breath

The CDC states you should contact your doctor if you:

Develop symptoms, and have been in close contact with a person known to have COVID-19 or have recently traveled from an area with widespread or ongoing community spread of COVID-19.

An individual’s risk for COVID-19 is tied to their recent travel history and the travel history of their immediate contacts.

“If you have recently traveled to any countries of high level transmission and have symptoms of respiratory illness and/or fever or if you have come in contact with someone who meets these criteria, you should contact your local board of health, health care provider, or our Massachusetts State Epidemiology line at (617) 983-6800,” state health officials say.

View the CDC’s latest risk assessments for travel here.

Prevention:


State health officials are advising the following steps, also taken to protect against colds and the flu, to help prevent the spread of COVID-19:

– Wash your hands often with soap and warm water for at least 20 seconds.

– Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

– Clean things that are frequently touched (like doorknobs and countertops) with household cleaning spray or wipes.

– Cover your mouth when you cough or sneeze. Use a tissue or your inner elbow, not your hands.

– Stay home if you are sick and avoid close contact with others.

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