January 26, 2022 By Carol Britton Meyer
Following a period of increasing COVID-19 positive cases in Hingham, the numbers are leveling off, according to Town Administrator Tom Mayo's update to the Select Board Tuesday night.
The latest Massachusetts Department of Public Health data indicates that the Hingham case count is roughly level at this time -- 174 new COVID-19 cases during the 14-day period ending on Jan. 15 as compared to 175 cases over the 14-day period reported on Jan. 8.
That said, many residents are now performing home-based testing, which is most often not reported, according to Mayo. Any such cases are therefore not included in the MDPH statistics, which means that the actual number of positive cases is higher than the above statistics indicate.
The overall vaccination rate for Hingham is now 83 percent for fully vaccinated individuals. In addition, 47 percent of Hingham residents have received a booster dose. According to MDPH, 65 percent of Hingham residents ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated.
A regional COVID-19 drive-through testing site continues to operate at 335 Lincoln Street, Hingham, in partnership with Cohasset, Hull, and Scituate.
Days and times are Mondays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Saturdays, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. PCR tests are available at no cost to the public.
Residents and employees of the four communities will continue to have priority appointment access from 7 a.m. – 11 a.m. daily. Online pre-registration at https://www.covidclinic.org/hingham-ma/ is required; no tests will be administered without an appointment. All participants will be notified of test results by email.
The Hingham Board of Health's Jan. 7 health advisory strongly recommending the use of face coverings by all patrons, visitors, and employees within any indoor space open to the public in Hingham is still in effect. This includes public housing, assisted living facilities, membership associations, and workplaces in Hingham.
The Hingham Board of Health recommends the use of an N-95, KN-95, or a non-woven, multi-ply surgical mask. "Woven cloth masks, gators, and bandanas provide significantly less protection against this airborne respiratory virus," Mayo said. "It's also important to remember that any face covering should be fitted closely to one’s skin to prevent unwanted gaps and leaks."