Mass. residents hospitalized by virus falls below 2,400

Massachusetts health officials on Thursday reported that 82 more people have died from the coronavirus as the number of confirmed cases increased by 1,114.

Coronavirus hospitalizations went down by 122 patients, following a recent trend that brings the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 2,396. Overall, the statewide hospitalization total has declined by 1,166 since May 5.

The 82 new deaths bring the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 6,148, 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 81 now.

The state has logged 90,084 confirmed cases of the highly contagious disease, an increase of 1,114 cases since Wednesday.

At least 2,396 people in Massachusetts are currently being hospitalized for the coronavirus — and 647 patients are currently in the ICU.

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

An additional 11,533 tests have brought the state’s total to 501,486 tests. The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate has declined from 16.6% on May 1 to 9.4% now.

Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases in Massachusetts with 19,930 cases, followed by Suffolk County with 17,089 cases.

The state reported 19,106 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 6,148 total coronavirus deaths, 3,755 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 93,000 Americans have died, and more than 294,000 have recovered.

New York is the country’s hot spot with more than 28,600 deaths and 356,000 cases.

There are more than 5 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 329,000 deaths. More than 1.9 million people have recovered.