Pittsfield COVID Cases Increase After Holiday

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is seeing an uptick in COVID-19 cases following the Christmas weekend.

The average daily case rate per 100,000 people is 75.9 and the percent positivity rate is 6.4.  Pittsfield has remained in the red incidence rate since November.

On Christmas, the positivity rate was 5.4 and has increased since.  A week before the holiday, cases were close to where they are now with a positivity rate of 6.5.

There are currently 234 estimated actively contagious cases in the city and to date, there have been 82 deaths.

There are currently about 23 people hospitalized at Berkshire Medical Center, 3 being in the intensive care unit.  On Christmas, there were 17 people in the hospital for COVID and the metric has increased since.

A few days prior on December 22 there were 20 people hospitalized with the virus.

Director of Public Health Andy Cambi told iBerkshires that the COVID-19 task force met briefly about two weeks ago to discuss the iHealth Labs over-the-counter, at-home rapid antigen tests that the city received.

The tests are intended to be distributed to those who may not have the financial means to purchase home tests.

The directive suggests that if not abided by, a stricter directive with fines and license and permit suspensions could follow. The board avoided using the term "mandate" but the language makes clear the directive is not advisory although venue operators are "respectfully" asked to comply.

Currently, 72 percent of the city’s individuals are fully vaccinated and 83 percent have received at least one dose.

 

Truck Crashes Into Pittsfield's Samel's Deli

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
10:55AM / Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Elm Street will be partially closed as cleanup continues. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Wednesday morning was busy for Pittsfield first responders, as a pickup truck crashed into Samel's Deli & Catering and a fire broke out on First Street.

Around 9:45 a.m., the police reported that the street in front of Samel's Deli & Catering would be closed or down to one lane as a result of a two-car collision that sent the truck careening into the deli.

The department posted two photos on Facebook, one depicting the silver truck with New York license plates crashed through the glass of the front entrance and another of a white Honda CR-V with significant damage to the front end.

"A vehicle was coming out of one of the alleyways here and struck this truck, which continued into the building," Police Officer Craig Jones explained when iBerkshires arrived on the scene.

Jones reported that there was one injury but whether it was someone in the vehicles or in the deli. A crossing signal near Samel's front entrance was also taken out by the truck.

Around this time, crews worked to clear debris in front of the restaurant as the truck was towed away. That section of the road reopened around 11 a.m.

The police, firefighters and an ambulance responded to the accident and police intend to release a statement on the incident.

Around 6:15 a.m., the Fire Department reported that it had responded to a possible structure fire at 233-235 First St. Windows on all three floors of the multi-family building are now broken or boarded up and the cause is under investigation by the Fire Investigation Unit and investigators from the State Fire Marshal's Office.