Mass. reports new low for COVID hospitalizations

Massachusetts health officials on Monday reported five more coronavirus deaths and 48 new cases, continuing the trend of lower numbers amid the vaccine rollout.

The number of COVID patients currently in Bay State hospitals is down to 100, which also marks a pandemic low. Hospitalizations on Monday dropped by eight patients from Sunday’s total of 108 patients.

There are now 33 patients in intensive care units, and 15 patients are intubated.

Meanwhile, the U.S. hit a new milestone in the fight against COVID. The U.S. daily average of deaths and cases are the lowest they’ve been since last March, with the daily death count dipping below 300.

Average U.S. deaths per day are down to about 293, according to Johns Hopkins University, after topping out at more than 3,400 in midJanuary.

New U.S. cases are running at about 11,400 a day on average, down from more than 250,000 per day in early January.

“These numbers make it clear: Getting vaccinated gets us back to normal,” CDC Director Rochelle Walensky said during a recent White House meeting. “It’s the best way we have to defeat this virus and to get everyone back to gathering together safely at weddings, sports events and travel.”

Massachusetts COVID cases, hospitalizations and deaths have plummeted to record lows amid the vaccine rollout.

More than 4 million people in the Bay State are fully vaccinated, and the state is likely to hit its goal of 4.1 million fully vaxxed people by today. The state is only 4,506 people away from reaching that goal.

After Massachusetts health officials reported 48 cases on Monday, the estimated active case count is down to 1,876 infections.

The seven-day average of cases has dropped to 63, and the daily average of deaths is three. Both are pandemic lows.

The state’s total recorded death toll is 17,976.