Virus case rate leveling off at high number

Health officials on Friday reported 46 new virus deaths and 1,734 new cases and while the number of estimated active COVID-19 infections and hospitalizations continue to drop in Massachusetts, the CDC is sounding the alarm nationwide about trends.

The count of estimated active cases in Massachusetts is now 30,983, a significant decline from 98,750 at the start of the year.

The seven-day average of confirmed cases is now 1,165, a drop from an average of 6,241 cases in the first week of January.

Friday’s 46 new virus deaths bring the state’s total recorded death toll to 16,024. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 36, compared to 77 daily deaths a couple weeks ago. That figure peaked at 175 daily deaths in late April.

Statewide hospitalizations have also been decreasing. Hospitalizations on Friday went down by 46 patients, bringing the total to 807 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 898 patients now.

The state Department of Public Health on Friday also announced that North Dakota has been removed from the list of lower-risk states for Massachusetts’ travel order and travelers will now have to quarantine.

Despite a drop in deaths in Massachusetts, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Director Dr. Rochelle Walensky said Friday that the recent nationwide decline in deaths may be leveling off at a very high number.

“We at CDC consider this a very concerning shift in the trajectory,” said Walensky.

The seven-day average number of cases in the United States has been dropping, but at 66,350 is currently higher than it was earlier this week.

“Things are tenuous. Now is not the time to relax restrictions,” Walensky said.

The coronavirus variant first found in the United Kingdom now makes up for 10% of the cases in the U.S., which is up from 1 to 4% of cases a few weeks ago.

“We may be done with the virus but clearly the virus is not done with us,” Walensky said.

MATT sTonE / HErAld sTAFF FIlE GIVING OUT VACCINATIONS: Dr. Marisa Tieger, a physician at Massachusetts Eye and Ear, fills a needle with the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine at Congregation Kehillath Israel on Thursday in Brookline.