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State health officials confirmed another 3,224 cases of the coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the total number of active cases statewide to 41,439.
Wednesday’s case figure is based on 129,833 new molecular tests and, due to a technology glitch, reflects up to 30 hours of data, the Department of Public Health said on its daily dashboard. The extra six hours of data added more cases to the report than normal, but even with the addition, deaths and hospitalizations have increased.
Officials also announced 53 more COVID-related deaths, bringing the death toll to 10,372.
There are currently 942 people hospitalized for COVID-19 statewide, including 208 patients in intensive care.
The seven-day positive test average is 3% – down from a low of 0.8 in September.
In Boston, officials said they would not move forward with Stage 2 of Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan, but added that they had seen a drop in coronavirus cases in town last week.
Boston Mayor Marty Walsh said on Wednesday that the COVID-19 community’s positivity rate fell to 4% citywide by the week ending November 20.
“All neighborhoods have seen positivity rates drop except Mattapan, which has seen a very small increase,” Walsh told reporters Wednesday.
In Worcester, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said Thursday the city will also remain in Stage 1 of Phase 3 despite being eligible to relocate. Augustus said the number of restaurant seats will not exceed six people per table, as bar seating is prohibited.
“Honestly, in good conscience, I cannot allow Worcester to take this step given the large increases we are seeing in both positive rates of COVID and increasing hospitalizations,” Augustus said.
Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday announced a new statewide public awareness campaign called “Get Back Masks,” which will include television commercials and other messages featuring testimonials from Massachusetts residents, who shared some of the activities they missed due to COVID, like spending time with friends and family, going to concerts, and getting the kids to play on dates.
The state will soon be rolling out rapid tests in long-term care facilities, Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders said on Monday. The tests, developed by Abbott BinaxNOW, will be available at long-term care facilities across the state, particularly for visitors to the centers, Sudders said.
Here is the number of coronavirus cases in each county of Massachusetts:
Barnstable County: 2,829
Berkshire County: 1,423
Bristol County: 18752
Dukes County: 253
Essex County: 32,897
Franklin County: 605
Hampden County: 15,169
Hampshire County: 2,185
Middlesex County: 43,538
Nantucket County: 275
Norfolk County: 15391
Plymouth County: 14,083
Suffolk County: 35687
Worcester County: 23,608
Unknown location: 589
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