PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Medical Center has confirmed that a patient has tested as presumptive positive for COVID-19.
In a statement of facts to press, Director of Media Relations Michael Leary said the patient is an older man who lives in Berkshire County. He is listed in stable condition.
The patient could not be tested before Friday, when the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the state Department of Public Health rules were changed to allow him to be tested. The CDC had limited testing to those who had traveled to areas where the disease was prevalent or had contact with someone who had.
The man had been admitted to BMC several days earlier but at that time did not meet the CDC requirements to permit testing at the only authorized laboratory — a DPH lab in Jamaica Plain
Leary said the Board of Health in the individual's home community has been notified by the DPH and BMC and that board is responsible for conducting tracing of those who have come into recent contact with the patient.
Several first-responders who came in contact with the patient were reportedly asked on Saturday to self-quarantine. The recommended quarantine is 14 days.
Also, two students at Monument Valley Regional Middle School have also self-quarantined, according to Berkshire Hills Regional Superintendent Peter Dillon, who notified parents. The students had been visiting a country that the CDC had raised the warning level for after they had returned.
The state now has one confirmed case of the coronavirus and 12 "presumptive." According to the state website, 719 individuals have been subject to quarantine and 470 have concluded the two-week period. Another 249 are still in quarantine.
The DPH reported eight presumptive cases on Friday morning and five more on Saturday afternoon, including the Berkshire County man described as being in his 60s.
Three of the cases had a "direct connection" to an employee conference for Biogen held in Boston last week, according to DPH, and a fourth had traveled to northern Italy. DPH said the fifth — presumably the Berkshire County case — was under investigation.
The vast majority of those who contract COVID-19 will not have severe symptoms but may have fever, coughing and shortness of breath. There is also the possibility of pneumonia.
Older individuals and those with underlying medical issues are at greater risk.
The disease has spread to more than 70 countries and killed more than 3,500, with the highest numbers in China where the virus originated. Nineteen people have died in the United States, 16 of them in Washington state. Vermont reported its first case late Saturday night.
BMC says it has been following CDC and DPH guidelines for caring for the patient and is identifying staff who may have been exposed to the patient prior to when he was tested.
Anyone with cold or flu-like symptoms is being asked not to visit Berkshire Health System facilities until their symptoms are gone. Anyone with severe symptoms should contact their physician by phone before going to their office or the hospital emergency department.
If anyone in the community feels the need to visit the hospital because of flu-like symptoms, BMC officials are urging them to first call the hospital at 413-447-2000.
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Belchertown Stops Pittsfield Post 68
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires.com Sports
PITTSFIELD, Mass. – Belchertown Post 239’s Cooper Beckwith set the tone when he crushed the game’s first pitch to left-center field for a double.
The visitors went on to pound out 14 more hits in a 9-1 win over Pittsfield Post 68 in American Legion Baseball action at Buddy Pellerin Field on Monday night.
Beckwith went 3-for-4 with an RBI and scored twice, and Chase Earle went five innings on the mound without allowing an earned run as Post 239 improved to 15-0 this summer and completed a regular-season sweep of Post 68 (12-4).
“He’s a good pitcher,” Post 68 coach Rick Amuso said. “Good velo[city], kept the ball down. We didn’t respond.”
Pittsfield did manage to scratch out a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, when it already trailed, 7-0.
Nick Brindle reached on an error to start the inning. He moved up on a single by Jack Reed (2-for-2) and scored on a single to left by Cam Zerbato.
That was half the hits allowed by Earle, who struck out three before giving the ball to Alex West, who gave up a leadoff walk in the sixth and retired the next six batters he faced.
Water runoff reaching the drainage outlet behind the property is flooding it, unable to reach an intermittent stream meant to carry that runoff. click for more
The $25,000 raised will directly assist the Berkshire Humane Society in funding its various programs aimed at improving the lives of animals in need throughout the Berkshire County area. click for more
The short film follows Tom Levardi, who has been a supporter of the hiking community over the last 45 years by allowing Appalachian Trail hikers to camp in his back yard.
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On Thursday, the commission issued 36 conditions for the city project that include a new boardwalk, access stairs, paring improvements, seasonal docks, and a new swimming beach on the park’s two properties at 1447 North St. and 40 Hancock Rd. click for more
Mike Ressler was unhittable on the mound, and the Pittsfield Little League All-Stars completed a convincing run through the Don Gleason District 1 Tournament with a 19-0 win over Dalton-Hinsdale on Thursday. click for more