Mass. COVID cases spike 53% over week

COVID-19 cases are continuing to rise in the Bay State as health officials reported on Tuesday a more than 50% increase in infections while virus hospitalizations also jumped.

The state Department of Public Health reported 1,712 COVID-19 cases, a 53% increase from 1,116 infections recorded last Tuesday. Health officials are warning that the omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant is spreading around the region.

The Boston-area COVID wastewater data has also started to rise again. State health officials have been encouraging people to get a booster shot to get more protection from the variants.

The state’s average percent positivity is now 3.42%, more than double the rate of 1.60% a few weeks ago. The positive test average for Tuesday’s count was higher at 4.21%.

State health officials reported 12 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,166. The 12 new deaths are from Saturday through Monday. The daily average of COVID deaths is now four. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations increased by 19 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 262 patients. Hospitalizations had been spiking in January, but plunged as the omicron variant receded. They’re now ticking up again.

There are now 33 coronavirus patients in intensive care units, and 15 patients are intubated across the state.

Of the total 262 hospitalized patients, 39% of the patients were primarily hospitalized for COVID, while 61% of the patients were considered incidental cases.

More than 5.3 million people in the state have been fully vaccinated, and more than 2.9 million people have gotten a booster dose. Also, 132,523 additional booster doses have been administered.

The state’s weekly breakthrough report had not been posted on Tuesday — the second straight week without a report of fully vaccinated cases, hospitalizations and deaths.