Virus cases up 1,821, hospitalizations drop for fifth straight day

Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported 1,821 new coronavirus cases, as COVID-19 hospitalizations ticked down for the fifth straight day.

Infections have surged amid the more highly contagious delta variant. The single-day average of COVID-19 cases is now 1,206, compared to 392 cases two months ago.

The average percent positivity is now 2.14%. The rate has been coming down from 2.98% last month.

The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 1.75%.

State health officials also reported 24 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,504. The daily average of COVID deaths is now 8.7, compared to the record-low average of 1.3 in mid July.

After COVID hospitalizations declined by 18 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 618 patients.

There are now 170 patients in intensive care units, and 100 patients are intubated.

Of the total 618 patients, 209 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 34%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case and hospitalization.

The most COVID patient admissions during the past two weeks have been in the 80-plus age group and 60-69 age group, with 186 patients in each age category.

The 70-79 age group had 176 patients, the 50-59 age group had 176 patients, the 40-49 age group had 122 patients, the 30-39 age group had 133 patients, and the 2029 age group had 65 patients.

There were four patients who are 18-19 years old, four patients between 12-17 years old, and seven patients under 12.

The state Department of Public Health also released its weekly age group data, showing that the 20-29 age group continues to account for the most COVID cases.

The 20-29 age group had 4,999 cases during the last two weeks, followed by the 30-39 age group with 3,616 cases.

The next highest age group is 40-49 with 2,560 cases, and then it’s the 50-59 age group with 2,347 cases.

Nearly 4.6 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, and more than 5 million people have gotten at least one shot of the vax.