77 more virus deaths
40,000 new cases in last week
Massachusetts health officials on Sunday reported 77 new coronavirus deaths and 5,396 new cases, another high count of infections as the Bay State surpassed 40,000 total cases in the last week amid the postholiday surge.
Sunday’s tally of 5,396 cases follows Saturday’s 7,110 cases, Friday’s 7,635 cases, Thursday’s 7,136 cases and Wednesday’s 6,419 cases.
Friday is the state’s singleday record high, and Thursday was the first time the state had reported more than 7,000 cases in one day.
Cases are surging and COVID-19 patients are filling up hospitals amid the post-holiday surge. The state has reported 42,232 cases in the last seven days.
Sunday’s 77 new virus deaths bring the state’s total COVID-19 death toll to 13,151. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 55, a significant jump from 13 daily deaths in early October. The death average peaked with 175 daily deaths in late April.
Of Massachusetts’ 432,791 total recorded cases, at least 293,522 people have recovered. Health officials estimate there are 90,567 active cases across the state.
The seven-day weighted average of the state’s positive test rate — removing higher education — has spiked to an elevated level of 8.4%. The rate was 7.3% in the week before Christmas, and 1.7% at the start of September.
Statewide coronavirus hospitalizations on Sunday went down by 66 patients, bringing the hospitalization total to 2,225 patients.
The 2,225 patients is a significant jump from 436 patients at the start of November. The highest peak of Massachusetts’ coronavirus hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.
Of the 13,151 total deaths in Massachusetts, 7,596 deaths have been reported in long-term care facilities.
The U.S. has recorded more than 373,000 coronavirus deaths and 22.3 million cases. The country’s death toll and case count are the highest in the world.