New COVID cases in state hit three-month high
State health officials on Thursday reported the highest single-day COVID-19 case count in more than three months.
The 4,376 daily virus cases in the state was up 31% from 3,341 reported cases last Thursday. The 4,376 new infections is the highest daily count since Feb. 3.
The omicron BA.2 variant is spreading across the region, and the subvariant BA.2.12.1 is gaining steam in New England.
The state’s daily average positive test rate has been climbing in recent weeks. The average positive test rate is now 6.17%, way up from 1.6% a few weeks ago.
State health officials reported 13 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,316. The daily average of deaths was much higher following the omicron hospitalization surge. The daily death rate is now four.
COVID-19 hospitalizations had fallen dramatically in the last several weeks after the omicron variant peaked. Now hospitalizations are rising again.
There are now 547 COVID patients across the Bay State after hospitalizations rose by 31 patients.
There are 45 patients in intensive care units, and 18 patients are currently intubated across Massachusetts.
The Department of Public Health reported that 37% of statewide COVID patients are currently being hospitalized because of COVID, and 63% tested positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons.
More than 5.3 million people in the state are fully vaccinated, and more than 3 million people have gotten a booster dose. Also, 316,422 additional booster doses have been administered.
The K-12 schools weekly COVID report from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education on Thursday shows that a total of 10,715 staff and students tested positive last week — which was a major jump from the weekly average of 4,324 positive tests in the previous report.