56,305 more shots given as eligibility expands

Massachusetts health officials on Sunday reported that more than 56,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were given during the most recent day of vaccine data, ahead of the state expanding the vaccine eligibility pool today.

The state Department of Public Health’s daily vaccination report on Sunday showed nearly 3 million total doses have been administered — 1,849,997 people who have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; 997,220 people who have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna; and 72,548 people who have received the singledose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

That’s an increase of 56,305 shots from Saturday’s statewide total. The previous daily vaccinations were 58,525 doses; 70,475 doses; 62,532 doses; and 61,449 doses. Overall, 1,069,768 people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated.

Today, the state is expanding the vaccine eligibility population to people who are 60 or older and other certain workers, including those in grocery stores and restaurants.

More than 3.2 million doses have been shipped to the Bay State, and more than 90% of total doses shipped to the state have been administered.

Sunday’s tally of 1,678 new virus cases follows a recent tick up in infections. The previous three days eclipsed 1,800 cases, which were the highest case counts in three weeks. The seven-day average of confirmed cases is now 1,319 cases, a decline from 6,241 cases in the first week of January.

The state’s count of estimated active cases is now 27,113 cases — up from 25,397 on Wednesday but a drop from 98,750 cases at the start of the year.

Sunday’s 33 new virus deaths bring the state’s total recorded death toll to 16,867. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 28, down from 77 daily deaths in late January. That figure peaked at 175 daily deaths in April.

Statewide hospitalizations have also been decreasing. Hospitalizations on Sunday went down by eight, bringing the total to 580 patients.

The seven-day average of the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 has declined from 2,347 patients at the start of January to an average of 606 patients now.

Of the state’s 16,867 total deaths from the virus, 8,848 deaths have been in longterm care facilities.