State reports 3,000 new cases
State health officials on Wednesday reported almost 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, while virus hospitalizations dropped across the region.
The state Department of Public Health’s report of 2,985 cases was up 6% from last Wednesday’s total of 2,807 infections. The omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant has sparked a rise in COVID cases.
The state’s average percent positivity has climbed to 5.79%, significantly up from 1.6% a few weeks ago. The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 4.73%.
State health officials reported 14 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,303.
The daily average of COVID deaths is now four. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.
After COVID hospitalizations dipped by 18 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 516 patients. Total hospitalizations surpassed 500 patients on Tuesday — the first time that had happened since Feb. 23 as hospitalizations rise again.
Of the hospitalized COVID patients statewide, 38% of patients were reported as being hospitalized due to COVID — and 62% of hospitalized patients were reported as testing positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons.
Across the state, there are now 38 coronavirus patients in intensive care units, and 14 patients are intubated.
During the last two weeks, the 20-29 age group in the state again had the most reported cases. That age group’s 7,237 cases topped the 30-39 age group’s 5,038 cases.
More than 5.3 million people in Massachusetts are now fully vaccinated, and more than 3 million people have gotten a booster dose.