State reports 10% jump in cases
After COVID hospitalizations jumped by 98 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 702 patients.
State health officials on Tuesday reported nearly 3,000 new COVID-19 cases, as infections continue to rise in the Bay State while virus hospitalizations surpassed 700 patients for the first time in months.
The state Department of Public Health reported 2,909 COVID-19 cases, a 10% increase from 2,651 infections recorded last Tuesday. Health officials have been warning that the omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant is spreading around the region.
The Boston-area COVID wastewater data had taken a dip, but the virus wastewater levels are now rising again. State health officials have been encouraging people to get a booster shot to get more protection from the variants.
The state’s average percent positivity is now 7.58%, significantly up from the rate of 1.6% two months ago. The positive test average for Tuesday’s count was much higher at 10.16%.
State health officials reported 21 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,357. The 21 new deaths are from Saturday through Monday. The daily average of COVID deaths is now six. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.
After COVID hospitalizations jumped by 98 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 702 patients. Hospitalizations are rising after several weeks of elevated cases. The last time the state had more than 700 total hospitalizations was in mid-February.
There are now 56 coronavirus patients in intensive care units, and 26 patients are intubated across the state.
Of the total 702 hospitalized patients, 34% of the patients were primarily hospitalized for COVID, while 66% of the patients were considered incidental cases.
In the state’s weekly breakthrough report, the state reported 28,797 breakthrough infections last week — a 162% surge from the 10,982 fully vaccinated cases during the prior week.
There was a one-week increase of 225 fully vaxxed patients.