Virus deaths up 80, cases increase 4,935
State health officials on Friday reported 80 new coronavirus deaths and 4,935 new cases as a new stage of vaccine rollout to people in shelters and congregate living began.
Friday’s tally of 4,935 cases comes after Thursday’s 4,821 cases and Wednesday’s count of 3,987 cases.
The state reported three consecutive days of more than 7,000 cases earlier this month in the wake of the holidays. Case counts have been high since then but not close to those record-setting levels.
The seven-day average of confirmed cases is now 2,965, a drop from 6,231 cases on Jan. 8.
The 80 new virus deaths bring the state’s total COVID-19 death toll to 13,910 and the seven-day average of daily deaths is now 50, down from 74 daily deaths last week.
The count of estimated active cases in the Bay State is now 89,433.
Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations went down on Friday, following the recent trend. Hospitalizations on Friday ticked down by 54 patients, bringing the hospitalization total to 2,098 patients.
There are 426 patients in the ICU and 282 are intubated.
The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate — removing higher education — has dropped in the last two weeks. The rate is now 7.1% after peaking at 9.4% at the start of the year. The rate was 1.7% at the start of September.
The positive test rate including higher education is 5.5%.
More than 854,000 coronavirus vaccine doses have been distributed in Massachusetts, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and 370,627 have been administered.
Vaccine distribution in the Bay State has now opened up to the homeless and others living in congregate care settings. Home health-care workers and non-COVIDfacing medical workers can also now be vaccinated.
Across the country, nearly 40 million doses have been distributed and 19 million have been administered.