Massachusetts coronavirus breakthrough cases surge 45,029 amid omicron holiday wave

More than 45,000 fully vaccinated people in the state tested positive for coronavirus last week between Christmas and New Year’s, a daily average of more than 6,000 breakthrough cases during the surging omicron variant holiday wave.

The count of 45,029 breakthrough cases last week is more than double the 20,247 breakthrough infections during the previous week — a 122% spike week-over-week.

The extraordinarily contagious omicron variant now makes up about 95% of new COVID-19 cases in the U.S., according to the CDC variant tracker.

State health officials are urging people to get a booster shot as soon as possible to get more protection from the new variant.

Overall, 179,594 fully vaxxed people have tested positive for the virus, according to new data from the state Department of Public Health on Tuesday. That’s 3.5% of the more than 5 million fully vaxxed people in Massachusetts.

The 179,594 overall cases is a jump of 45,029 breakthrough infections from last week — or a daily average of 6,433 fully vaccinated people testing positive.

Last Tuesday’s report had showed an increase of 20,247 breakthrough cases, a daily rate of 2,892 fully vaxxed people testing positive.

The week before that was a rise of 13,919 infections — a daily average of 1,988.

The previous week’s count was 11,431 cases, a daily rate of 1,633.

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Breakthrough hospitalizations have been accounting for about 30% to 35% of current COVID-19 hospitalizations. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case and hospitalization.

There have been 3,909 hospitalizations among fully vaccinated people in Massachusetts, which represents 0.08% of those who are fully vaxxed.

The 3,909 total patients is a one-week increase of 370 fully vaxxed patients. That’s up from the previous weekly increase of 353 fully vaxxed patients. The week before that was 220 fully vaxxed patients.

The state has reported 942 breakthrough deaths, or 0.02% of those who are fully vaxxed. That’s a one-week increase of 88 deaths — up from the previous weekly increase of 70 deaths. The week before that was 85 deaths.

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