Bay State reports 1,853 new COVID cases

State health officials on Wednesday reported more than 1,800 new COVID-19 cases, while virus hospitalizations jumped across the region.

The state Department of Public Health’s report of 1,853 cases was a bit down from last Wednesday’s total of 1,969 infections. However, the number of reported tests was a 27% drop from last week.

The omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant is currently the dominant strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subvariant has sparked a rise in virus cases, as more people gather indoors without masks. The Boston-area COVID wastewater data is going up. Meanwhile, the Massachusetts average percent positivity has climbed to 4.34%, significantly up from 1.6% a few weeks ago. The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 3.88%.

State health officials reported 24 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,208. There is typically a lag in death reports following a long holiday weekend.

The daily average of COVID deaths is now four. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations jumped by 45 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 373 patients. Hospitalizations had been spiking at a rapid pace amid the omicron surge, but then plunged. Now, hospitalizations appear to be increasing again.

Of the hospitalized COVID patients statewide, 29% of patients were reported as being hospitalized due to COVID — and 71% of hospitalized patients were reported as testing positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons.

Across the state, there are now 29 coronavirus patients in intensive care units, and 10 patients are intubated.

During the last two weeks, the 20-29 age group in the state had the most reported cases. That age group’s 5,901 cases topped the 30-39 age group’s 3,834 cases.

More than 5.3 million people in Massachusetts are now fully vaccinated, and almost 3 million people have gotten a booster dose. Also, 201,443 additional booster doses have been administered.