State COVID cases on upswing
Delta variant blamed for reversal; four deaths logged Thursday
Health officials on Thursday reported 236 new coronavirus cases as infections continue to jump with the more contagious delta variant circulating the state.
The 236 case count was the highest single-day infection tally since early June. The daily average of 135 cases is now more than double the record low of 64 daily cases late last month. Also, the average percent positivity is now 0.78%, up from the pandemic low of 0.31% last month.
The state Department of Public Health on Thursday also reported four more COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,017. The daily average of one death is up from the recent record low of 0.9 daily deaths.
Statewide hospitalizations on Thursday went up by six patients, bringing the Bay State’s total to 108 COVID patients. That’s an increase from the record low of 80 patients on July 4. There are now 36 patients in intensive care units, and 11 patients are intubated.
The daily average of 95 COVID patients in hospitals across the state is up from the record low of 85 patients last week.
Meanwhile, more than 8.75 million total vaccine doses have been administered in the state, and almost 4.3 million people are fully vaccinated, according to Thursday’s vaccine report. Last month, the state hit its goal of 4.1 million fully vaccinated people.
Overall, the doses administered break down to nearly 4.5 million people who have received one dose of either the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine; more than 4 million people who have received both doses of Pfizer or Moderna; and 282,332 people who have received the single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccine.