Bay State hospitalizations tailing off

Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported 1,355 new coronavirus cases, as COVID-19 hospitalizations ticked down and the positive test rate stayed at a lower level.

Infections have surged with the more contagious delta variant, but cases have been significantly down in recent weeks. The single-day average of COVID-19 cases is now 995, compared to 1,896 cases a month ago.

The average percent positivity is now 1.82%. The rate has been coming down from 2.98% several weeks ago.

The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 1.54%.

State health officials reported 11 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,875. The daily average of COVID deaths is now 7.1, compared to the record-low average of 1.3 in mid-July.

After COVID hospitalizations ticked down by 20 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 559 patients.

There are now 144 patients in intensive care units, and 73 patients are intubated.

Of the total 559 patients, 196 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 35%. 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 60-69 age group, accounting for 189 patients.

The 70-79 age group had 176 patients, both the 80-plus and the 50-59 age group had 155 patients, the 40-49 age group had 102 patients, the 30-39 age group had 91 patients and the 20-29 age group had 39 patients.

There was one patient who was 18 or 19 years old, one patient between 12 and 17 years old and 12 patients under 12.

The state Department of Public Health released its weekly age group data, showing that the 30-39 age group continues to account for the most COVID cases over the last two weeks.

The 30-39 age group had 2,878 cases during the last two weeks, followed by the 20-29 age group with 2,577 cases.

Nearly 4.7 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, and more than 5.2 million people have gotten at least one shot of the vaccine. The state reported that 283,597 people have gotten a booster dose.