Cases up by 1,888 with breakthroughs dropping

7-day death average half of last month’s

Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 1,888 new coronavirus cases and 3,431 breakthrough cases, which is a dip from the previous week.

The count of 3,431 breakthrough cases last week was down from 4,034 breakthrough infections in the prior week. The week before that was 3,741 cases, and the previous week was 4,378 cases.

Breakthrough cases in Massachusetts have been making up about 35% of the state’s overall cases in recent months.

People who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for infection and a severe case.

Virus cases had been climbing for months since the onset of the more highly contagious delta variant, but infection tallies have been lower in recent weeks.

Tuesday’s count of 1,888 new coronavirus infections brings the total case burden in Massachusetts to 782,178. Health officials also reported 25 new deaths.

The seven-day average of coronavirus deaths now stands at 7.4, which is down from about 14 at the end of September.

The seven-day daily average of cases is now 1,041. A month ago, the daily average was 1,896 infections.

The positive test average has been coming down.

The percent positivity is now 1.74%, down from 2.98% last month.

Hospitalizations on Tuesday increased by 10 patients to 579.

There are 150 patients in the ICU and 75 are intubated.

The seven-day average of hospitalizations is now 550 patients, which is down from 682 patients last month.

Of the 579 hospitalized patients, 200 are fully vaccinated, which is about 34%.

Unvaccinated people are at a much higher risk of being hospitalized with coronavirus.

Nearly 4.7 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, which is about 67% of the population.

More than 5.2 million people have gotten at least one shot and more than 270,000 people have gotten a booster shot.