Massachusetts public health officials on Sunday reported another 2,973 positive COVID-19 tests, bringing the estimated number of active cases to 78,688, just as the country exceeded 19 million cases.
The Department of Public Health also announced that 100 Massachusetts residents have died from COVID-19, which has increased the death toll across the country to 11,852 since the pandemic began. When probable COVID-19 cases are included, the figure rises to 12 110.
The state confirmed 338,704 cases this year. The U.S. recently surpassed 19 million cases, representing nearly a quarter of coronavirus cases worldwide, according to data found by Johns Hopkins University.
Sunday’s new statistics are based on 41,331 new molecular tests; 10 663 821 tests were done throughout the pandemic.
The seven-day average rate of positive tests now stands at 6.28 %%, a sharp increase compared to the lower percentage of 0.8% in September. With the exception of tests administered at higher education institutions, the positivity rate of the state is 7.32%. Regular testing on campuses has helped keep COVID-19 rates at colleges and universities low.
Currently, 2,156 people are in the hospital being treated for COVID-19, including 416 in intensive care. The average age of COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts is 69. Hospitalizations have been steadily increasing over the past two months; nationally, surveys were up 11% more than two weeks ago, according to The New York Times.
At least 188 cities and towns across the state are identified as at high risk for transmitting the virus. A handful of communities have been downgraded to moderate risk, while others have been downgraded to high risk.
The latest statistics come a day after the new restrictions on Governor Charlie Baker on enterprises and rallies came into effect. The state began on Saturday to reduce the capacity constraints for most businesses to 25%, and to reduce the number of people allowed to gather outside to 25. For indoor events, also for events, the limit is 10 people.
Industries affected by the capacity reduction include restaurants, personal services, theaters and performance venues, casinos, office spaces, places of worship, retail, driving and flying schools, golf facilities, libraries, accommodation, arcades and indoor recreation, fitness centers and gyms. , museums, cultural facilities and guided tours.
A total of 949 new COVID cases were confirmed in public schools from 17 to 23 December, excluding distance learning students, according to new data from the Department of Primary and Secondary Education. These infections have been identified among 450,000 students and 75,000 staff members.
Dr Anthony Fauci, the country’s leading expert on infectious diseases, warned on Sunday that public health officials expected an “increase on top of a boom” as Americans traveled and gathered during the Christmas and New Year holidays. He consistently encouraged Americans to be vigilant by avoiding large gatherings, wearing masks, and maintaining social distance.
Here are the number of cumulative confirmed cases of coronavirus in each Massachusetts province:
Barnstable County: 5,066
Berkshire County: 2,677
County of Bristol: 32,340
Dukes County: 459
Essex County: 54,879
Franklin County: 1,214
Hampden County: 24,866
Hampshire County: 3,579
Middlesex County: 71,348
Nantucket County: 704
Norfolk County: 25,608
Plymouth County: 22 762
Suffolk County: 52,079
Worcester County: 40,136
Unknown location: 987
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