April 29, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
The number of coronavirus cases in Hingham -- as reported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Public Health today, April 29 -- reached 148 this week, up from 108 a week ago.
"While the state COVID-19 numbers appear to be slowly coming down, we're still in the surge period," Asst. Town Administrator Michelle Monsegur told the Hingham Anchor when asked for her perspective on the higher number of cases in Hingham this week. "But hopefully the numbers [of reported Hingham cases] will come down soon."
Dozens of COVID-19 cases, including several deaths, were reported recently among residents of a senior living community and a nursing home in Hingham.
Monsegur said earlier that the expanded state COVID-19 testing, particularly in nursing homes, accounts for part of the increase in the number of reported cases in Hingham, and she confirmed Wednesday that expanded testing is still a factor.
Even with increased testing as one reason for the rise in the number of reported Hingham COVID-19 cases recently, town officials continue to believe that the current figures actually under-represent the true number of cases in Hingham because MDPH’s numbers reflect only laboratory-confirmed cases (people who tested positive), but not clinical diagnoses by medical professionals without a test, people who self-diagnose and stay at home, or asymptomatic people who don’t know they have the virus and haven't been tested.
Town officials continue to urge residents to wear cloth face masks when unable to maintain a six-foot social distance.
For COVID-19 updates visit hingham-ma.gov. Go to the following link on the Town of Hingham website's Health Department link for a one-page COVID-19 guidance and information sheet: https://www.hingham-ma.gov/DocumentCenter/View/9556/Covid-19-Guidance. Residents can call the Health Department at (781) 741-1466 or email healthdirector@hingham-ma.gov with any questions or concerns.