MA Coronavirus Latest: 26 Deaths, 569 New Cases

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 569 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 125,139. The seven-day weighted average of positive tests held at 0.8 percent. However, the daily positive rate rose to 2.67 percent.

Health officials confirmed 26 new deaths, bringing the death toll to 9,085. Hospitalizations increased by 24 from Friday. There are 362 people currently hospitalized for coronavirus-related illness, 65 of whom are in intensive care.

While the state marked its lowest positive coronavirus test rate at 0.8 percent this week, it also marked a new high for communities at high risk of the virus. Six new communities were in the red in the state's latest coronavirus map, upping the number of communities at high risk for COVID-19 infections to 17.

Nantucket, Plainville, Saugus, Tyngsborough, Worcester and Wrentham were moved into the high-risk category, joining Chelsea, Dedham, Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Monson, New Bedford, Revere and Winthrop.

Saturday's numbers showed 21,298 new molecular tests, bringing the total number of people tested in Massachusetts to 2,067,821. There have been 3,337,292 tests conducted overall in the state.