Bay State sees 15 more deaths, 199 new cases

age of 73 per day in the last week. Three weeks ago, the state was averaging 30 deaths per day. Since the pandemic began in March, 4,346 people have died in Florida of COVID-19, the state says.

There needs to be a complete shutdown of non-essential businesses, said Dr. Davidson Hamer, a Boston University specialist in infectious diseases.

“People should shelter at home, like we were doing in Massachusetts in March and April,” he said. “They need to minimize any gatherings to reduce the risk of exposure, and anybody going outside has to wear a mask even in hot weather.

“It’s worrisome,” Hamer added. “There’s just so much virus circulating in the community there.”

Because of the increase in cases and the positivity rate, doctors have predicted a rise in deaths, saying the mortality rate usually increases two to four weeks later as some of those infected get sicker and eventually die.

Massachusetts health officials on Sunday reported 15 more people have died from the coronavirus and 199 new cases, as the statewide positive test rate continued to stay low.

The 15 new coronavirus deaths bring the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 8,325, the state Department of Public Health announced. The three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths has dropped from 161 at the start of May to 16 now.

The state has logged 111,597 cases of the highly contagious disease, an increase of 172 confirmed cases since Saturday and 27 probable cases. Of the 111,597 total cases, at least 94,347 people have recovered.

Coronavirus hospitalizations went up by 11 patients, bringing the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 583.

Overall, the statewide hospitalization total has declined by 2,979 since May 5.

There are 93 patients in the ICU, and 43 are currently intubated.

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

The three-day average of the number of coronavirus hospitalizations has gone from 3,707 on May 1 to 596 now.

An additional 11,119 tests have brought the state’s total to 1,213,914 tests.

The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate has declined from 16.6% on May 1 to 1.7% now.

Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases in Massachusetts with 24,483, followed by Suffolk County with 20,301 cases.

The state reported 23,674 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have now contracted the virus, with 369 facilities reporting at least one case of COVID-19.

Of the state’s 8,325 total coronavirus deaths, 5,274 are connected to longterm care facilities.

The U.S. has recorded more than 3.2 million coronavirus cases — the most cases in the world.

More than 135,000 Americans have died, and more than 995,000 have recovered.

There are more than 12.7 million confirmed cases worldwide and more than 566,000 deaths. More than 7 million people have recovered.