No one in Rochester has died of Covid-19. 

Hours after Town Administrator Suzanne Szyndlar reported at an April 30 virtual Selectmen’s meeting that someone in town had died from the disease, she contacted Sippican Week to say that through a clerical error her information was incorrect. 

Szyndlar had checked in with Town Health Nurse Connie Dolan the morning of the meeting for the most updated statistics. The data system that Dolan uses showed one death in town, information that she passed on to Szyndlar, and the Town Administrator told Selectmen and meeting attendees. 

Some questioned that information, and around 2 p.m. Dolan checked again. The system no longer recorded any deaths for Rochester. The death that had been reported for Rochester was near the Freetown line, and Szyndlar said the address was likely changed in the system, moving it into Freetown. 

Szyndlar said at the meeting that Rochester has 12 other confirmed cases, with six that are active and six that are recovered. Of those who had been diagnosed, seven of the 12 cases were in healthcare workers. Dolan said on Tuesday that most people with the virus have mild symptoms and recover in a few weeks.

In Mattapoisett and Rochester, confirmed coronavirus cases have increased slightly since last week, while Marion reported no active cases. 

As of April 29, Mattapoisett has 15 cases. As of April 30, Marion has zero active cases.

Rochester’s cases represent an increase of four cases from last week, Marion’s decreased two from last week and Mattapoisett cases increased by three.

Marion explained that residents recovered from the disease, which is why its cases decreased. State numbers from April 29 said that Marion has seven cases, but this number includes past cases, so it is higher. Marion’s April 30 update only includes accounts for those who actively have the virus.

However, the town clarified that because tests are reserved for healthcare workers and hospitalized patients, the actual number of cases is likely much higher.

The Mattapoisett dataset showed that 9 people were quarantining and 25 people had completed a quarantine.

The numbers in the Tri-Town have risen more slowly than in nearby communities.

Wareham Week reported on April 26 that cases were up from 78 to 103 in four days, with most cases in the general public.

Dartmouth Week reported on April 27 that the number of cases had risen by 60 since last week, swelling the town’s number to 161 cases, with half of the cases from the public and half in nursing homes.

As numbers across the state are still increasing, Governor Charlie Baker extended a stay-at-home order and closures of non-essential businesses from May 4 to May 18.

In that time, Baker and an advisory board will work on plans to reopen the state.