Deaths spike up by 32

Massachusetts health officials on Thursday reported 32 new coronavirus deaths and 162 new cases as the average positive test rate hovered above 2%.

The 32 new coronavirus deaths bring the state’s COVID-19 death toll to 8,691, 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 12 now.

The state has logged 119,874 cases of the contagious disease, an increase of 162 confirmed cases and 69 probable cases since Wednesday. Of the 119,874 total cases, at least 99,021 people have recovered.

Somerville Mayor Joe Curtatone tweeted on Thursday about the rise of cases, “This is not a drill. Our area is seeing an uptick in COVID cases. Be diligent about face coverings, distancing & hand washing.”

The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate slightly ticked down from 2.2% on Wednesday to 2.1% on Thursday. The rate was at 1.7% on July 14.

Coronavirus hospitalizations went up by seven patients, bringing the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 403. Overall, the statewide hospitalization total has declined by 3,159 since May 5.

There are 73 patients in the ICU, and 32 patients 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 384 now.

An additional 11,555 tests have brought the state’s total to more than 1.6 million tests.

The state reported 24,450 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have now contracted the virus, with 376 facilities reporting at least one case of COVID-19.

Of the state’s 8,691 total coronavirus deaths, 5,541 are connected to long-term care facilities.

The U.S. has recorded more than 4.8 million coronavirus cases — the most cases in the world. More than 159,000 Americans have died, and more than 1.5 million have recovered.