Massachusetts reports 5,192 new COVID cases, 37 deaths as active cases statewide surpass 50k



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State health officials confirmed 5,192 more cases of the coronavirus on Friday, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 51,371. This is based on 96,701 new molecular tests reported on Friday, according to the Department of Health. public.

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic now stands at 237,456.

Officials also announced 37 other COVID-related deaths, bringing the total death toll to 10,674.

The number of patients currently hospitalized with symptoms of COVID-19 has increased to 1,394, including 278 in intensive care.

The seven day average of positive tests has risen to 5.44% and is increasing daily. It hit its lowest level in September at 0.8%. When you remove the higher education tests from the results, the seven-day positive test average drops to 7.48%. Rigorous testing at higher education institutions has resulted in low percentages of positives and currently stands at 0.49%.

Friday’s figures come a day after state officials announced that Lowell General Hospital was setting up a field hospital to handle the influx of COVID-19 patients amid the continuing outbreak. Governor Charlie Baker said the second field hospital will be operational in the coming weeks and will serve the northeastern part of the state.

Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, who oversees the COVID-19 command center, said the state was in talks to establish a field hospital in southeastern Massachusetts. The state has no plans at this time in Boston, she added.

But Boston Mayor Walsh said the city may consider setting up the makeshift care facility at the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center if trends don’t improve. The city has reported a sharp increase in cases and hospitalizations after Thanksgiving.

“By Tuesday, we could build a field hospital,” Walsh said. “Or Tuesday, we could talk about improving the numbers in our region.”

Ninety-seven towns and villages in Massachusetts are now classified as “at high risk” for the spread of COVID, according to data released Thursday by the Department of Public Health.

These communities include: Abington, Acushnet, Attleboro, Barnstable, Bellingham, Berkley, Billerica, Blackstone, Boxford, Brockton, Charlton, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Chicopee, Clinton, Dartmouth, Dighton, Douglas, Dracut, Edgartown, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg , Framingham, Freetown, Gardner, Georgetown, Granby, Hampden, Hanover, Haverhill, Holden, Holyoke, Hopedale, Hudson, Lancaster, Lawrence, Leicester, Lenox, Leominster, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lunenburg, Lynn, Malden, Marion, Mendon , Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Milford, Millbury, Monson, New Bedford, Newbury, Norfolk, North Attleborough, North Brookfield, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Pittsfield, Plainville, Randolph, Rehoboth, Revere, Rutland, Salisbury, Saugus, Seekonk, Shirley, Somerset, Southborough, Southbridge, Southwick, Spencer, Springfield, Sterling, Stoneham, Stoughton, Sturbridge, Sutton, Swansea, Taunton, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Upton, Uxbridge, Wareham, Wenham, West Boylston, West Springfield, Westport, Whitman, Wilm ington and Woburn.

Here is the number of coronavirus cases in each county in Massachusetts:

Barnstable County: 3,372

Berkshire County: 1803

Bristol County: 21819

Dukes County: 295

Essex County: 38,467

Franklin County: 716

Hampden County: 17,551

Hampshire County: 2,492

Middlesex County: 50108

Nantucket County: 381

Norfolk County: 17,480

Plymouth County: 15,788

Suffolk County: 39,360

County of Worcester: 27,135

Unknown location: 689

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