COVID-19 cases on Cape Cod keep rising; vaccination efforts continue

State health officials reported Thursday that over the last two weeks the Cape has had about 850 new cases of COVID-19 — more than triple the number of new cases reported this time last month.

Barnstable County health officials said cases are on the rise across the state, and urged residents to get vaccinated and boosted.

"The increase in cases is most likely related to the Omicron BA.12.2 variant, combined with a near-total relaxation of mitigation efforts," health spokeswoman for Barnstable County Bethany Traverse said in an email.

In its weekly report, the state Department of Health said Thursday Barnstable County posted 847 to 850 new cases of COVID-19 from April 17-30. Previous reports of new cases for two weeks were 750 on April 28; 573 on April 21; 325 on April 14; and 230 on April 7.

The two-week testing positivity rate for Barnstable County on Cape Cod rose to 7.03% compared with 6.15% April 28.

In its Thursday daily report, the DPH indicated Massachusetts had 4,376 newly confirmed cases of coronavirus for a total 1.6 million since the pandemic began. There were also 634 new probable cases of COVID-19, for a total 141,003.

The seven-day testing positivity rate for Massachusetts stood at 6.17%. Thursday's DPH report indicated that Barnstable County had 115 new cases of COVID-19 for a total 36,707 since the pandemic began.

The DPH reported that as of Wednesday, 547 patients in Massachusetts hospitals were infected with coronavirus, of whom 356 — or 65% — were fully vaccinated. Of those hospitalized who have COVID-19, less than half — 37% or 201 — were primarily hospitalized for COVID-related illness.

Officials: COVID positivity rates and hospitalizations rise on the Cape

Cape Cod Hospital in Hyannis reported nine patients with coronavirus, while Falmouth Hospital had eight, including one person in intensive care.

The DPH report also indicated 13 new coronavirus deaths, , including one on Cape Cod.

Since the pandemic started, Massachusetts has reported 20,316 confirmed and probable cases of coronavirus deaths, including 582 on Cape Cod.

The DPH weekly report on new COVID cases over the last two weeks; total cases; and 14-day positivity rates for towns on Cape Cod follows:

Barnstable (179; 9,640; 7.32%); Bourne (72; 3,577; 6.23%); Brewster (37; 1,415; 5.57%); Chatham (29; 816; 9.55%); Dennis (57; 2,271; 7.59%); Eastham (10; 467; 6.94%); Falmouth (126; 4,383; 7.31%); Harwich (40; 2,026; 5.90%); Mashpee (67; 2,483; 6.07%); Orleans (20; 749; 8.73%); Provincetown (6; 456; 4.58%); Sandwich (98; 3,480; 7.66%); Truro (less than five; 180; 5.19%); Wellfleet (8; 272; 8.70%); and Yarmouth (97; 4,377; 7.43%).

This article originally appeared on Cape Cod Times: COVID-19 cases on Cape Cod continue to rise