Another 5,657 cases of COVID-19 have been reported in Massachusetts, bringing the total number of active cases across the state to 98,317, according to health officials.
Saturday’s new cases follow 112,120 new molecular tests and bring the average of seven days of positive tests to 6.15%. Although this percentage is much higher than the 0.8% minimum reached in September, the number has a downward trend this week, according to data from the Department of Public Health.
However, the state’s seven-day average is 7.4% excluding higher education institutions, where the frequency of tests keeps the COVID spread low.
DPH on Saturday also reported another 74 deaths related to the virus. So far, during the pandemic, at least 444,028 residents have tested positive and 13,305 have died.
As of Saturday, 2,197 people are hospitalized with the virus, including 433 in the intensive care unit and 294 who are intubated. The average of seven days of hospitalization is 2,221, decreasing slightly after months of increase. The state had its lowest value in August, when an average of 155 COVID patients were hospitalized.
The seven-day average of new positive cases is 3,570. From January 3 to 9, the state had the highest number of COVID cases in Massachusetts to date, with more than 41,000 positive tests.
In Massachusetts, 229 towns and cities have been labeled by DPH as “high risk” for spreading the virus.
The state launched vaccination last month. Since then, 32,984 people have achieved full immunization with a second dose of Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines. In total, 239,174 doses were administered in Massachusetts, according to DPH data.
On Monday, the state plans to start vaccinations for homeless people, residents of collective houses, substance abuse treatment programs and emergency and prison shelters.
In Massachusetts schools, 523 students and 407 employees tested positive for COVID from January 7 to 13, excluding students who are learning remotely.
On Friday, DPH said the need for a flu vaccine for almost all students was being eliminated for the 2020-2021 school year, as the flu season has been mild so far. The mandate was part of an effort to prevent hospitals from becoming overcrowded during the pandemic.
Cumulative COVID cases by county:
Barnstable: 7,204
Berkshire: 3,937
Bristol: 44,238
Dukes: 649
Essex: 70,581
Franklin: 1,580
Hampden: 32,627
Hampshire: 4,952
Middlesex: 91,946
Nantucket: 981
Norfolk: 34,744
Plymouth: 31,347
Suffolk: 64,867
Worcester: 53,053
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