State reports drop in new coronavirus cases

State health officials on Thursday reported a drop in new coronavirus cases though K-12 schools reported a staggering 48,414 infections in the last week amid the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant.

Thursday’s daily count of 18,721 new virus cases was significantly down from last Thursday’s report of 24,570 infections, which was the third highest day ever. That’s a 24% decline week-over-week.

The state had shattered its daily case record seven times during the past few weeks, but now cases appear to be suddenly taking a dive. Recent data from the Boston-area coronavirus wastewater tracker, which is the earliest indicator of future COVID cases in the community, showed that a rapid fall was on the way.

The daily average percent positivity has been surging in recent weeks. The average percent positivity is now 20.34%. The rate for Thursday’s report was 17.06%.

State health officials reported 36 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,872. The daily average of deaths is now 43, compared to 77 daily deaths during the peak of last winter’s surge.

COVID-19 hospitalizations have been climbing during the omicron wave. The 3,180 patients — a daily increase of 93 patients — is the state’s highest level since the spring of 2020.

There are now 484 patients in intensive care units, and 278 patients are currently intubated.

Of the 3,180 total patients, 1,505 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 47%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case.

Overall in the Bay State, more than 5.1 million people are fully vaccinated, and more than 5.9 million people have gotten at least one shot. The state reported that more than 2.4 million people have received a booster dose.

Virus cases keep spiking in Massachusetts schools as a total of 48,414 staff and students tested positive in the past week.

The report published on Thursdays by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education reports 41,063 students and 7,351 staff tested positive for the coronavirus from Jan. 6 to Wednesday.

The report last week was the first school virus tally since the holiday break, so it was for two weeks. A total of 51,100 staff and students tested positive in last week’s report.