Massachusetts reports 2,567 new cases of COVID, 45 deaths; The rate of new cases slows as a new strain is detected



[ad_1]

State health officials on Tuesday confirmed 2,567 more cases of COVID, bringing the number of active cases statewide to 93,300.

Officials also announced 45 other COVID-related deaths, for a total of 13,469 deaths since the start of the pandemic.

The seven-day positive test average is currently 5.94%. There are now 2,213 patients hospitalized for COVID-19 across the state, including 432 intensive care patients, of which 277 are intubated.

Following a post-holiday surge, the state has seen the weekly number of new COVID cases drop after three weeks of sharp increases. The peak of the pandemic for Massachusetts occurred the week of January 2 with 42,495 new cases. By comparison, the number of new cases last week is 30,186. The drop, however, comes two days after health officials confirmed the first case of the highly contagious variant of COVID, which has spread. in the United Kingdom, in Massachusetts. The person who tested positive for the new strain is a Boston woman in her 20s who fell ill after traveling to the UK, DPH officials said on Sunday.

COVID deaths in the state have also leveled off after an 11-week increase, although they are still relatively high and on a weekly basis about 50% higher than they were the week before Thanksgiving .

There have now been 454,102 total confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic.

The latest figures come as Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the state would expand its COVID vaccine rollout to include more vaccines at CVS Health and Walgreens pharmacies across the state.

As part of that expansion, Baker also confirmed that Fenway Park would become the state’s second mass vaccination site after announcing Gillette Stadium last week.

Fifteen CVS and Walgreens stores across Massachusetts will receive 10,000 doses of the vaccine this week, officials said. These stores are located in Greenfield, Fall River, Salem, South Yarmouth, Pittsfield, Lee, Holden, Gardner, Hyannis, Mashpee, Somerset, Fairhaven, Haverhill, Saugus and Danvers.

Nearly 40 vaccination sites will be added next week through those pharmacies and additional partners including Wegmans, Big Y, Price Chopper, Stop & Shop and Hannaford, officials said.

Total number of COVID cases by county:

Barnstable County: 7,499

Berkshire County: 4,081

Bristol County: 45439

Dukes County: 676

Essex County: 71,834

Franklin County: 1,615

Hampden County: 33,547

Hampshire County: 5,081

Middlesex County: 93,861

Nantucket County: 990

Norfolk County: 35,740

Plymouth County: 32246

Suffolk County: 66066

Worcester County: 54,092

Related content:

[ad_2]

Source link