New COVID cases in Western MA remain fairly steady since June

July 24, 2020

As COVID-19 surges in some parts of the county, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) reports the rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 and the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals is trending in the right direction. MDPH’s COVID-19 Dashboard also shows a decrease in COVID-19 deaths, hospitalizations, the percentage of people testing positive, and the number of hospitals using surge capacity since April 15th.


Like the state overall, Western MA has experienced a decrease in new COVID-19 cases since April. The number of new COVID-19 cases each week has remained fairly steady since the beginning of June, with less than 200 new cases each week. The graph below shows the number of new COVID-19 cases each week in Western MA as well as milestones for the reopening of MA.


As COVID-19 surges in some parts of the county, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA DPH) reports the rate of people testing positive for COVID-19 and the number of people with COVID-19 in hospitals is trending in the right direction.

As stated in previous newsletters, caution should be exercised when interpreting COVID-19 data. For example, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases is dependent upon who is tested and not necessarily reflective of the distribution of COVID-19 in the general population. Testing has been limited thus far. Because many people who have the disease are asymptomatic and have not been tested, prevalence of people testing positive is unlikely to reflect the prevalence in communities. As testing and contact tracing increase, we will have a better understanding of impacts on communities and populations, and more targeted actions can take place to mitigate spread and support those who are disproportionately impacted.

share this

Related Articles

Upcoming Webinar Sept 26 About Vaping & Nicotine Pouches

September 12, 2025
Vaping & Nicotine Pouches: Understanding the New Landscape Date: Friday, September 26, 2026 Time: 12:00 - 1:00 pm Join us for an informative webinar as we explore the evolving landscape of tobacco and nicotine use, with a special focus on vaping and nicotine pouches like Zyns. This session will offer a high-level overview of emerging products, usage trends, and potential mitigation strategies—especially relevant for youth, families, community-based organizations (CBOs), and municipalities. Featured Speakers: Dr. Nicole Porther, Chair of the Department of Health Professions, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts Heather Warner, MPH, Hampshire Franklin Tobacco-Free Community Partnership Coordinator, Collaborative for Educational Services Moderator: Jessica Collins, Executive Director, Public Health Institute of Western MA

New Report! Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities

September 10, 2025
Check out our new report, Rural Realities: Financial insecurity and health inequities in our rural communities—insights from the 2023 Community Health Equity Survey - Western MA and Statewide . We created this report as part of our work as a Regional Data to Action Provider for the Community Health Equity Initiative . Rural communities have unique needs. It is important to understand how inequities and challenges manifest in rural areas in our Western MA region to support action based on assets and unique needs.

The Many Steps to Getting a Question on MA’s Statewide Ballot

August 19, 2025
2025-26 Ballot Question Timeline Initiative Petition for a Law