U.S. virus deaths surpass 400,000

Cases rise 2,567 in Bay State

Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 45 new coronavirus deaths and 2,567 new cases, while the total count of COVID-19 deaths in the U.S. surpassed 400,000.

Tuesday’s Massachusetts count of 2,567 cases follows Monday’s 3,224 cases, Sunday’s 4,283 cases, and Saturday’s 5,657 cases.

The state’s highest ever single-day counts were in the previous week, when officials reported three straight days of 7,000-plus cases. Since then, case counts have remained elevated, but have not approached record-setting levels. The state’s positive test rate has dropped, too.

The 45 new virus deaths bring the state’s total COVID-19 death toll to 13,749. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 56, down from 74 daily deaths last week. The death average peaked with 175 daily deaths in late April.

The U.S. on Tuesday surpassed 400,000 coronavirus deaths. The country’s death toll is the highest in the world. More than 2 million global deaths have been recorded.

Of Massachusetts’ 476,526 total recorded cases, at least 324,203 people have recovered.

The count of estimated active cases in the Bay State is now 93,300 — down from 98,750 on Monday.

The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate — removing higher education — has recently declined. The rate is now 7.3% after peaking at 9.4% at the start of the year. The rate was 1.7% at the start of September.

Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations went up on Tuesday after dropping in the last week. Hospitalizations on Tuesday ticked up by seven patients, bringing the hospitalization total to 2,213 patients. The total was 2,428 patients last week.

The total of 2,213 current patients is up from 436 patients at the start of November. The highest peak of Massachusetts’ coronavirus hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.

Of the 13,749 total deaths in Massachusetts, 7,789 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.