Mass. COVID cases jump 25% over the weekend

9 COVID deaths reported

State health officials on Monday reported more than 10,000 COVID cases over the weekend, as virus rates continue to jump across the region and hospitalizations increase.

The state Department of Public Health reported a daily average of 3,596 COVID cases over the weekend, which was up 25% from the daily rate of 2,875 infections during the previous weekend. The daily rate of 3,596 cases is the highest weekend average since late January.

The omicron BA.2 variant and a subvariant called BA.2.12.1 have contributed to the recent increase in cases. The Boston-area COVID-19 wastewater data had briefly dropped, but the predictive wastewater levels are now rising again.

“It is impossible to predict whether the case numbers will continue to rise, but we know there are measures we can all take to minimize COVID-19’s impact,” Carole Allen, president of the Massachusetts Medical Society, said in a Monday statement. “We remind everyone who has yet to do so to get vaccinated and boosted. The vaccines remain our best defense against the disease and have consistently proven effective at reducing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.

“We urge those who are at high risk to limit their exposure to others,” Allen added. “We know doing so can be a tough decision to make when planning for graduations, parties, vacation, and other seasonal events. We recommend masking for those who gather indoors or in large groups, regardless of individual risk level.”

The state’s positive test average has been rising. The average is now 8.48% — significantly up from 1.6% two months ago. The average for the weekend report was 9.33%.

The state reported nine new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total recorded death toll to 20,409. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now eight, which had been much higher following the omicron hospitalization surge.

There are now 739 COVID patients hospitalized in the state, an increase of 10 patients from Friday’s count. Hospitalizations had been spiking for several weeks amid the omicron surge, but then plunged. Patient tallies in the past few weeks did start rising again.