State’s death toll tops 6,000

Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported that 128 more people have died from the coronavirus, totaling more than 6,000 virus deaths across the Bay State, as the number of confirmed cases increased by 1,045.

Coronavirus hospitalizations went up for the first time in more than a week, an increase of 46 patients, bringing the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 2,518. Overall, the statewide hospitalization total has declined by 1,044 since May 5.

The 128 new deaths bring the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 6,066, the state Department of Public Health announced. The three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths has dropped from 159 at the start of May to 85 now.

The state has logged 88,970 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease, an increase of 1,045 cases since Tuesday.

At least 2,518 people in Massachusetts are currently being hospitalized for the coronavirus — and 675 patients are currently in the ICU.

The highest peak of Massachusetts coronavirus hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.

An additional 13,013 tests have brought the state’s total to 489,953 tests. The sevenday weighted average of the state’s positive test rate has declined from 16.6% on May 1 to now 9.4%.

“That percent of positive tests per day has remained at or below 10% for about a week now. That’s a very promising development and a promising trend,” Gov. Charlie Baker said during a Wednesday press briefing.

Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases in Massachusetts with 19,708 cases, followed by Suffolk County with 16,962 cases.

The state reported 18,801 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have now contracted the virus, with 344 facilities reporting at least one case of COVID-19.

Of the state’s 6,066 total coronavirus deaths, 3,701 deaths are connected to long-term care facilities.

The U.S. has recorded more than 1.5 million coronavirus cases — the most cases in the world. More than 92,000 Americans have died, and more than 289,000 have recovered.

New York is the country’s hot spot with more than 28,600 deaths and 354,000 cases.

There are more than 4.9 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 325,000 deaths. More than 1.7 million people have recovered.