COVID cases receding
State health officials reported more than 24,000 new coronavirus cases over the weekend along with a continuing drop in COVID-19 hospitalizations as the omicron variant keeps slowing across the Bay State.
The 24,512 infection total was significantly down from the surge of 60,986 cases two weekends ago — a 60% plunge in two weeks.
In early January, the state’s record-high daily case count kept getting shattered as the extraordinarily contagious omicron variant raged across the region. As infections now decline, officials continue to urge people to get vaccinated and receive the booster shot as soon as possible to gain more protection.
The positive test average has been coming down in recent weeks. The average is now 11.72% — a major drop from 23% in early January. The positive test rate for Monday’s report was 10.06%.
The state reported 78 new
COVID-19 deaths, bringing the total recorded death toll to 21,514. The daily average of deaths is now 57, compared to the daily average of 77 deaths at the peak of last winter’s surge.
There are now 2,984 COVID-19 patients hospitalized in the state, down 121 patients from 3,105 total patients on Friday. Hospitalizations had been spiking for several weeks, but have started ticking down in recent days.
The state reported that 433 patients are in intensive care units, and 254 patients are currently intubated.
Of the 2,984 total hospitalizations, 1,420 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 48%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case.
Nearly 5.2 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, and more than 6 million people have gotten at least one shot. The state reported that more than 2.6 million people have gotten a booster dose.