Massachusetts established a daily COVID-19 case record on Thursday, reporting 6,887, according to the state’s Department of Public Health.
The previous record for a single day was December 3, although that day’s report included almost 700 overdue cases. There were 7,424 cases reported on December 26, but that included two days of cases, as the Department of Public Health did not report any on Christmas Day.
There have already been 359,445 confirmed cases in Massachusetts, with 81 deaths on Thursday bringing the number of victims to 12,157, according to health officials. Another 266 deaths are likely to be linked to COVID-19.
The percentage of positive coronavirus tests, on average, rose to 8.6%, according to the report.
The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 increased to 2,271. Of that number, 417 were registered in intensive care units and 240 are intubated, according to the DPH.
Governor Charlie Baker said on Wednesday that about 78,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine were administered across the state on Tuesday, and about 20,000 people living and working in long-term care facilities should be vaccinated in one of the 50 vaccination clinics by the end of this week.
“Progress obviously in this regard shows that while it is irregular and rugged, what we said it would be, is moving forward and speaks well with what is to come in relation to 2021,” he said.
Baker also asked people to avoid New Year’s parties.