Photo: COVID update for April 12

Nearly one in four Belmont residents – approximately 24 percent – have received a complete round of a COVID-19 vaccine, running at a slightly higher rate than the state’s 22.5 percent, according to a Belmont Health official in the department’s update before the Select Board Monday evening, April 12.

Assistant Health Director Diana Ekman told the board that 40 percent of the population had received at least one shot of the vaccine, while 74 percent of Belmont residents 75 and older have been vaccinated.

“So we are making progress,” Ekman said.

Shots for the housebound

Ekman revealed that Belmont Fire and Belmont Health department personnel conducted a second round of vaccinations to about 50 housebound residents. With additional vaccine supplies on the way in the next week, Ekman said her department would welcome to hear from family member and neighbors of resident who are confined indoors to place them on the list.

Contact the Belmont Health Department at 617-993-2720.

Ekman said the Health Department has been working with staff at the Council on Aging who has been assisting in connecting her department with other agencies “just to try to cover the bases as much as possible.”

Slight surge in COVID cases but Belmont remains ‘Green’

The rate of positive cases originating in Belmont continues to trail the mini-surge occurring statewide in data collected by the state’s Department of Public Health.

But the same information shows the two-week average daily incidence per 100,000 residents of 8.5 percent has risen to its highest level since Nov. 20 when the rate was at 9.2.

Belmont retains a state color calculation of “green” which refers to less than 10 average cases per 100,000 residents in communities with a population between 10,000 and 50,000.

As of April 9, Belmont has registered 1,080 positive cases of COVID-19 with 80 deaths attributed to the coronavirus.