Cases over 2G for third day in a row
State reports 35 new deaths
State health officials on Saturday reported 2,362 new coronavirus cases and 35 new deaths, marking the third day in a row the state has reported more than 2,000 cases.
Saturday’s case count of 2,362 follows Friday’s 2,301 cases and Thursday’s tally of 2,247, which was preceded by weeks of totals under 2,000 cases, some days dipping down to around 1,000.
The additional 2,362 cases reported on Friday bring the total number in the state to 590,561 and 35 new deaths brought the death toll to 16,746.
The seven-day average of confirmed cases is 1,495, which is up slightly from March 1 when the rate was 1,446.
Health officials reported 29,806 estimated active cases, an increase of 996 from Friday and up from 25,986 a week ago.
Statewide hospitalizations had been dropping amid the state’s vaccine rollout but increased Saturday by 32 on Saturday, bringing the total to 654 patients.
There are 143 patients in the ICU and 86 are intubated.
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 614 patients now.
Of the state’s total death toll of 16,746 people, 8,916 of the deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities, an increase of 10 from Friday.
The seven-day average of confirmed COVID-19 deaths is 30, down from 40 one month ago. The lowest rate since the start of the pandemic was about four deaths in September.
Massachusetts’ seven-day weighted average percent positivity is 2.3%, up slightly from 2% one week ago. The lowest it has ever been was .8% in September.