Coronavirus cases back on the rise again

More than 68,000 coronavirus vaccine doses were given in Massachusetts during the most recent day of vaccination data, according to state health officials on Sunday who also reported 29 new virus deaths and 1,817 new cases.

The state Department of Public Health’s daily vaccination report on Sunday showed more than 3.3 million total doses have been administered — 2,116,388 people who have received at least one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; 1,169,856 people who have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna; and 83,277 people who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

That’s an increase of 68,657 shots from Saturday’s statewide total. The previous daily vaccinations were 77,015 doses; 72,612 doses; 72,088 doses; and 62,563 doses. Overall, 1,253,133 people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated.

More than 3.7 million doses have been shipped to the Bay State, and more than 89% of total doses shipped to the state have been administered.

Sunday’s tally of 1,817new virus cases follows a recent rise in infections. The previous three days eclipsed 2,000 cases, which were the highest case counts in several weeks.

The seven-day average of confirmed cases is now 1,583 cases, an increase from 1,322 cases a few weeks ago.

The state’s count of estimated active cases is now 30,772 cases — up from 25,397 last week, but a drop from 98,750 cases at the start of the year.

Sunday’s 29 new virus deaths bring the state’s total recorded death toll to 16,775. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 25, down from 77 daily deaths in late January. That figure peaked at 175 daily deaths in late April.

Statewide hospitalizations have also been decreasing amid the vaccine rollout but increased this week. Hospitalizations on Sunday went up by 3, bringing the total to 657 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 622 patients now.

Of the state’s 16,775 total deaths from the virus, 8,921 deaths have been in longterm care facilities.