Massachusetts health officials on Tuesday reported 1,283 new coronavirus cases and 25 COVID deaths, which was the highest daily death count in more than five months.
Total COVID hospitalizations in the Bay State dropped again, while the positive test rate ticked up.
Virus cases have been climbing for months amid the more highly contagious delta variant. Now deaths have been higher in recent weeks.
The 25 new COVID deaths was the highest single-day tally since April 3’s count of 30 deaths. Last week, the state reported 24 new COVID deaths in one day.
The state’s total recorded death toll is now 18,480. The seven-day average of deaths is now 7.1. The record-low daily death average was 1.3 in mid-July.
After the new 1,283 virus cases, the seven-day average of cases is now 1,222. Two months ago, the daily average was 352 infections.
The positive test average has been coming down, however. The percent positivity is now 2.10%, a dip from 2.98% last month. The daily positive test rate for Tuesday’s report was higher at 2.98%.
There are now 636 COVID patients in the state, a daily decrease of five patients.
The state reported that 173 patients are in intensive care units, and 103 patients are currently intubated.
Of the 636 total hospitalizations, 211 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 33%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case.
The state Department of Public Health also reported 4,568 breakthrough cases from last week, which was up from 3,919 breakthrough infections during the previous week.
More than 4.59 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, and more than 5 million people have gotten at least one shot.
