COVID-19 cluster in Provincetown grows to 430 cases

PROVINCETOWN, Mass. — The number of confirmed cases linked to a COVID-19 cluster in the Cape Cod town of Provincetown has grown, town officials said in a statement on Saturday.

As of Friday, 430 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 were officially reported to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health associated with the Provincetown cluster, the statement said.

Of these cases, 342 are Massachusetts residents, 153 of which reside in Provincetown. The remaining individuals who tested positive live in other states.

Cases among Massachusetts residents are found to be predominantly symptomatic (71%), with 69% of affected individuals reported to be fully vaccinated.

There have been three hospitalizations (2 in state and one out-of-state) associated with this cluster, but most symptoms are known to be mild and without complication, the statement said.

The cases are being investigated by local health officials and the federal Centers for Disease Control.

Genetic sequencing, a multi-step process that takes several weeks to complete, is being conducted at the Massachusetts State Public Health Laboratory and other labs to determine whether a variant of concern is associated with the cluster.

The town said officials are awaiting these results and will share them as they become available.

Also, daily testing of wastewater in Provincetown was to begin on Saturday, the statement said.

Wastewater testing has been “a valuable surveillance tool” and was conducted in Provincetown throughout the pandemic, according to the town.

The last wastewater sampling was conducted in Provincetown in spring 2021. Going forward, the wastewater testing data will indicate the presence of COVID-19 in the 50% of the buildings in Provincetown connected to the town’s sewer.

Given the current cluster, presence of COVID-19 in wastewater sampling tests is expected, town officials said.

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