Virus hospitalizations lower after surge
Cases up 4,906
Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 67 new coronavirus deaths and 4,906 new cases, while statewide hospitalizations ticked down after a surge in recent months.
Tuesday’s count of 4,906 cases follows Monday’s 4,239 cases, Sunday’s 5,396 cases, Saturday’s 7,110 cases, Friday’s 7,635 cases and Thursday’s 7,136 cases. Counts have been significantly higher after the holidays. Friday is the state’s single-day record high.
Tuesday’s 67 new virus deaths bring the state’s total COVID-19 death toll to 13,273. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 55, a drop from an average of 71 daily deaths a week ago. The death average peaked with 175 daily deaths in late April.
Of Massachusetts’ 442,529 total recorded cases, at least 293,522 people have recovered. Health officials estimate there are 90,975 active cases across the state.
Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations have spiked in recent months but have declined by more than 200 total patients in the past week. Hospitalizations on Tuesday went up by eight patients, bringing the hospitalization total to 2,219 patients. The total was 2,428 patients last week.
“We’re obviously closely monitoring these hospital figures to ensure that we have enough capacity to treat both COVID and nonCOVID patients,” Gov. Charlie Baker said at a Tuesday press conference, noting that hospitalizations are down over the last week.
The 2,219 current patients are still a significant jump from 436 patients at the start of November. The highest peak of Massachusetts’ coronavirus hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.
The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate — removing higher education — has spiked in recent months but declined in the last week. The rate is now 8.5% after peaking at 9.4% at the start of the year. The rate was 1.7% at the start of September.
Of the 13,273 total deaths in Massachusetts, 7,643 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
The U.S. has recorded more than 379,000 coronavirus deaths and 22.7 million cases. The country’s death toll and case count are the highest in the world.