Positive coronavirus tests declining, though Massachusetts cases increase by 1,679

Massachusetts health officials on Friday reported 36 new coronavirus deaths and 1,679 new cases as test positivity continues to decline.

Friday’s count of 1,679 cases follows Thursday’s tally of 1,803 cases, Wednesday’s report of 1,322 cases and Tuesday’s 967 cases. The 967 single-day count was the lowest tally since early November.

The state’s seven-day weighted average positive test rate without higher education institutions is 3.6%. Including higher education, it is 2.1% down from 8.7% on January 1. The lowest rate ever was .8% in September.

The count of estimated active cases in Massachusetts is now 37,210, a drop of 13,134 since last week’s estimated total of 50,344 cases. The 37,210 active cases is a significant plunge from the 98,750 estimated active infections at the start of the year.

Since then, daily case counts have fallen as the vaccine rollout ramps up.

The seven-day average of confirmed cases is now 1,140, a significant decline from an average of 6,241 cases in the first week of January.

Friday’s 36 new virus deaths and four new probable virus deaths brings the state’s total recorded death toll to 15,726. The seven-day average of daily deaths is now 44, compared to 77 daily deaths a couple weeks ago. That figure peaked at 175 daily deaths in late April.

Of the state’s total deaths, 8,446 have been in long-term care facilities.

Statewide hospitalizations have also been decreasing. Hospitalizations on Friday went down by 39 patients, bringing the total to 990 patients.

There are 258 patients in the ICU and 163 are intubated.

The seven-day average of the number of people hospitalized for COVID-19 has declined from 2,347 patients at the start of January to an average of 1,100 patients now.

Most of the cases in the past two weeks are among residents age 0-19 followed by the 20-29 age group.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/37ycrwB