Boston Herald

COVID wastewater data still climbing

Hospitaliz­ations jump again, 10 deaths reported across state

- By Rick Sobey rick.sobey@bostonhera­ld.com

The Boston-area COVID wastewater tracker continues to shoot up this week, predicting even more infections on the way as virus hospitaliz­ations keep jumping across the region.

The wastewater data had briefly dipped, but the virus sewage samples are now climbing again. The southof-Boston seven-day average for virus wastewater samples spiked 55% in the last week, and the north-ofBoston average has gone up 49%. The higher wastewater levels forecast a continuing rise in cases.

Meanwhile, the state Department of Public Health on Wednesday reported 3,948 new COVID cases, similar to last Wednesday’s total of 3,996 infections. Omicron subvariant­s have sparked a rise in COVID cases.

The state’s average percent positivity has jumped to 9.13%, significan­tly up from 1.6% two months ago. The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 7.54%.

State health officials reported 10 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,453.

The daily average of COVID deaths is now eight. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitaliz­ations surged.

After COVID hospitaliz­ations increased by 22 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 825 patients. Total hospitaliz­ations surpassed 800 patients on Tuesday — the first time that had happened in more than three months as hospitaliz­ations rise again.

Of the hospitaliz­ed COVID patients statewide, 32% of patients were reported as being hospitaliz­ed due to COVID — and 68% of hospitaliz­ed patients were reported as testing positive for COVID while hospitaliz­ed for other reasons.

Across the state, there are now 78 coronaviru­s patients in intensive care 29 patients intubated.

More than 5.3 million people in Massachuse­tts are now fully vaccinated, and more than 3 million people have gotten a booster dose. Also, 408,701 additional booster doses have been administer­ed.

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