Massachusetts coronavirus cases increase by 1,245 as key trends tick down

State health officials on Friday reported 1,245 new coronavirus cases and 12 new deaths as case counts continue on a slow but steady downward trend.

Infections had spiked amid the more highly contagious delta variant, but cases have been significantly down in recent weeks. The single-day average of daily COVID-19 cases is now 899, which is down from 1,300 a week ago and 1,896 cases a month ago.

The average percent positivity has now dropped to 1.73%. The rate has been coming down from 2.98% several weeks ago.

The 1,245 new coronavirus cases bring the state total to 794,382 and the 12 new deaths bring the death toll to 18,601.

The seven-day average of deaths is 9.3, down from around 16 at the start of the month, but still well above the record low of 1.3 in July.

COVID hospitalizations on Friday increased by two, bringing the state’s overall patient count to 530 patients. There are 140 patients in the ICU and 72 are intubated.

The seven-day average of hospitalizations is 529, down slightly from about 600 at the beginning of the month. Of the 530 people in the hospital with coronavirus, 192 are fully vaccinated which is 36%. Those who remain unvaccinated are at a much higher risk of coronavirus complications.

Across the state, 92% of hospital beds are occupied and 83% of ICU beds are taken.

As of Friday, 4.7 million people in Massachusetts had been fully vaccinated, about 67% of the population and more than 4.9 million had gotten at least one shot, which is 70% of the population.

More than 425,000 booster shots have been administered in the state. Booster doses from all three vaccine makers are now cleared for use and they can be mixed and matched.

Children age 5-11 could become eligible to get a Pfizer vaccine as early as next week with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention authorization anticipated.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3CwTlVg