In State, 603G Have BooSteR SHotS
Health officials on Friday reported 1,343 new coronavirus cases as Johnson & Johnson and Moderna booster shots became available and more vaccine sites opened up.
Overall in the Bay State, more than 4.7 million people are fully vaccinated, about 67% of the population, and more than 5.2 million people have gotten at least one shot.
The state reported that 306,177 people have received a booster dose.
Following Wednesday night clearance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Johnson & Johnson and Moderna booster shots are now available in Massachusetts and across the U.S.
Pfizer shots have been available since late last month.
Health officials on Friday announced that two more state-sponsored booster sites will open on Tuesday in Brockton and Danvers.
Booster shots are free, and people must meet eligibility requirements to get one.
Infections have been higher due to the more highly contagious delta variant, but daily case tallies have been lower in the past few weeks.
The 1,343 new virus cases now bring the daily average of infections to 938. The daily average was 1,896 a month ago.
The daily average percent positivity has been down in recent weeks.
The percent positivity is now 1.78%, compared to 2.98% several weeks ago.
State health officials reported 15 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,911.
The daily average of deaths has been higher lately. The average is now 11, compared to the record-low death count of 1.3 in mid-July.
COVID hospitalizations went down by 13 patients, bringing the total to 519 patients.
There are now 144 patients in intensive care units, and 82 patients are currently intubated.
Of the 519 total patients, 180 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 34%.
Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case.