State COVID cases increase by 1,726
Mass. also has 18 new deaths
Massachusetts health officials on Friday reported 1,726 new coronavirus cases following a spike of 2,096 coronavirus cases the day prior, which marked the highest daily count of COVID infections in five months.
The 1,726 new virus cases now brings the daily average of infections to 1,129. Cases had been lower this week until Friday’s high report. The rate is still down from around 1,500 during the first few days of this month.
The daily average percent positivity has been ticking down. The percent positivity is now 2.52%, compared to 2.98% a few weeks ago. Test positivity had peaked around 30% when the pandemic first began, and testing was limited.
This time last year, test positivity was just 0.8%.
State health officials also reported 18 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,350.
The 18 COVID deaths are the highest single-day count since the report of 19 deaths on May 17. There were also 18 new coronavirus deaths reported on Thursday.
The seven-day average of deaths is now 8.1, up from a mere 1.6 in early July.
COVID hospitalizations increased by two on Friday. The hospitalization total is now 624 patients. There are 168 patients in the ICU and 86 are on ventilators.
Of the 624 total patients, 181 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 29%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case.
About 92% of hospital beds in the state are occupied, and 80% of ICU beds are taken. The seven-day average of hospitalizations is 599, which is up from a record low of 84 in July.
As of Friday, more than 4.54 million people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated, which is about 65% of the state’s population. More than 4.7 million people have gotten at least one shot, which is 67.5% of the population.