Massachusetts - Coronavirus COVID-19

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New COVID cases in Massachusetts jumped 60% over last two weeks

New cases of COVID-19 in Massachusetts climbed by about 60% over the past two weeks, and Thursday’s new case total of 3,196 marked a new high in single-day reports since early February.

The state Department of Public Health also reported eight new deaths.

According to The New York Times, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Vermont and New Hampshire are all in the top 10 among states with the highest percentage increase in new cases over the last two weeks, with between 60% and 80%

The seven-day average rate of positive tests has risen consistently over the last few weeks. The rate now stands at 3.04%, up from Wednesday’s 2.84%. On Monday, the rate was 2.32%. Boston city officials said its community positivity rate was 3% as of Wednesday.

Hospitalizations also rose again Thursday after several weeks in a row averaging closer to 500 patients. There are currently 657 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Massachusetts hospitals; the total includes those being treated for reasons other than COVID-19, but who’ve tested positive. Sixty-seven patients are intubated and 132 are in intensive care units, DPH said. A majority of those in the hospital or dying from the virus are still unvaccinated.

Fewer than 0.05% of the state’s fully vaccinated individuals — 2,080 people — have been treated in the hospital, and only 0.01% of fully vaccinated people have died, according to DPH.

 

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Important to note
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Despite the higher numbers, the rate of positive cases remains below 1%. With about 920,000 students enrolled and roughly 140,000 staff members working in public school buildings, the rate of COVID-19 cases currently stands at 0.35% among students and 0.40% among staffers

Watching the school numbers
As we enter the winter 21 surge
Significant rise in school COVID cases, with 3,257 students and 558 staffers positive in past week

 

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A look at the new Massachusetts COVID spike in charts as state reports 2,581 new cases Friday

Massachusetts reported another 2,581 new cases of COVID-19 Friday as infections for the virus continued to spike across the state.

The rise comes just as the state is starting to see an uptick in new vaccinations as well as booster shots now that Massachusetts is allowing people of all ages to receive them.

COVID hospitalizations, which had been stagnating in the 500s for more than two months, continued to climb this week as well and were at 663 as of Friday’s report. COVID hospitalizations can include those who are being treated for other conditions but who tested positive for the virus. However, of that total, 129 were in intensive care and 68 were intubated.

According to the state Department of Public Health, there are 64,120 total breakthrough cases in Massachusetts— a figure that still only represents about 1.3% of fully vaccinated residents. Last week’s breakthrough cases amounted to 49% of the new COVID-19 cases reported; that figure is down from 52% during the week prior.

The seven-day average percent positivity of new cases continued to rise and is at 3.09% now.

There were 22 new confirmed COVID deaths reported on Friday.

New cases of the virus had been declining for eight weeks before taking a sharp turn upward the week of Oct. 31. Since then, weekly cases of the virus by test date have shot up more than 60%.

Vaccinations continued to climb this week with the state reporting 55,726 more doses administered on Nov. 11. The state hadn’t seen a single-day report of new vaccinations that high since the spring.

A total of 887,630 booster shots have been administered with 27,156 more reported on Friday.

Despite the increase in vaccinations, there are still 15 Massachusetts cities with populations above 20,000 that remain below a 60% vaccination rate.

The average age of those testing positive for COVID dipped this week to 33 while the average age of those who have died of COVID over the past two weeks rose to 76.

The 5-9 age group remains the age demographic testing positive at the highest rates at nearly 700 cases per 100,000 people in that group.

 

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COVID Should Not Disrupt Thanksgiving, Baker Says

Massachusetts families "should enjoy their Thanksgiving" with confidence even as COVID-19 cases tick upward, Gov. Charlie Baker said Monday.

Baker noted that more than 5 million Bay Staters have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Families concerned about the virus could purchase rapid tests to give themselves an added layer of security, Baker added.

"It's still a big opportunity for us to get back to what I would describe as something that will feel more like a traditional holiday," Baker said.

 

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Mass. averaged 2,267 new daily COVID cases over weekend
COVID hospitalizations in Massachusetts now back to April levels

Massachusetts officials say the state averaged about 2,267 daily new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, continuing a rise in case totals and hospitalizations over the last several weeksacross the state and much of New England. The commonwealth also saw 17 new deaths linked to the virus.


In total, this past weekend saw 6,801 newly confirmed positive tests in Massachusetts. This past weekend’s daily case totals represent almost a 77% increase compared to the prior weekend, when the state averaged about 1,749 new cases per day.

Massachusetts’ average new case total of almost 2,500 per day amounts to an 83% increase compared to two weeks ago, according to The New York Times. Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island are also seeing sharp upticks compared to the previous two weeks.









More than 71,000 received vaccine shots over the weekend, including boosters. More than 39,200 booster shots were given over the weekend.


There are currently 708 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Massachusetts hospitals; hospitalizations can include those being treated for other conditions, but who tested positive for the virus. Eighty-one patients are intubated and 143 are in intensive care units


According to Monday’s data, 62% of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among people who are not fully vaccinated; 38%, or 271 patients, are breakthrough cases being treated after they were vaccinated.


The seven-day average rate of positive tests — which climbed throughout last week – now stands at 3.07%.

 

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COVID hospitalizations climb to 740 as Massachusetts reports 2,616 newly confirmed cases

Daily hospitalizations for COVID-19rose again on Tuesday, with 740 patients were in the hospital just a day after the state reached 700 for the first time since April.

Eighty patients are intubated and 154 are in intensive care in Massachusetts as of Tuesday.

The commonwealth averages about 620 COVID-19 patients per day, a 45% increase over the previous two weeks — which means Massachusetts has the third-highest percentage uptick among states with rising hospitalizations, With about nine hospitalizations per 100,000 people, the state is still below the national average of 15.

As of Tuesday, 37% of those hospitalized are fully vaccinated, according to the state Department of Public Health. The remaining 63% are either unvaccinated or have not completed a two-dose vaccination.

State officials announced Tuesday afternoon that Massachusetts hospitals with limited capacity should start reducing elective procedures next week, with the recent pandemic surge coming amid staffing shortages ahead of an anticipated spike in patients following holiday gatherings.

After averaging about 2,300 cases per day over this past weekend, DPH on Tuesday reported 2,616 newly confirmed positive tests.

The seven-day average rate of positive tests now stands at 3.28%, up from Monday’s 3.07%.

 

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Massachusetts’ average daily COVID case increases over last two weeks among highest in country

Massachusetts and Connecticut top the 14 states with the highest increases in new COVID-19 cases over the last two weeks, according to the latest data tracked by The New York Times.

Connecticut’s average daily new case total has risen 120% in two weeks, while Massachusetts’ latest average of about 2,800 cases per day amounts to an 81% bump over the same period. The states can tout nearly the highest vaccination rates in the U.S. — more than 70% of the population is fully vaccinated in both — but they’re still part of a wave of increasing cases and hospitalizations across the country

The U.S. overall has seen a 25% increase in new cases over the last two weeks.

The latest increases in New England — Rhode Island and New Hampshire report rises of 69% and 52%, respectively — come as local, state and federal public health officials brace for an anticipated surge in cases following the holiday season, But unlike last year’s winter surge, the public is better protected by both vaccines and booster shots.

Overall hospitalizations for COVID-19 rose again in Massachusetts on Tuesday, with the state Department of Public Health reporting 740 patients were in the hospital just a day after the state reached 700 for the first time since April.

National data tracked by the Times shows that Massachusetts’ latest daily average of 629 COVID-19 hospitalizations is a 47% increase compared to just two weeks ago — the second-highest increase in the nation, behind New Hampshire’s 58%.

But Massachusetts and Connecticut are still fairing better than national averages and other states with 40%-plus case increases when it comes to hospitalizations per 100,000 people. Massachusetts is averaging nine hospitalizations per 100,000, and Connecticut is at just eight, compared to Michigan’s 37, Pennsylvania’s 28 and New Hampshire’s 25. The national average is 15 per 100,000, according to the Times.

Vaccinated individuals are far less likely to be hospitalized or die from the virus; as of Tuesday, just 0.05% of fully vaccinated people in Massachusetts have been hospitalized and about 0.01% have died.

 

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Massachusetts reports 5,058 new COVID cases; Hospitalizations growing, but not as quickly

Massachusetts reported 5,058 new COVID cases on Friday The number, over a two-day period, averages out to 2,529 cases a day, which is on the lower end of the number the state has been reporting daily this week.

Overall, the number of new cases has continued to rise sharply for the past three weeks after a seven-week decrease. 17,061 new cases by test date were reported for last week, which is higher than weekly cases reported at the height of the spring spike and is about equal to where the state was at the end of January after coming off one the biggest surge of the year.

Weekly new cases have risen 115% over the past three weeks.

The rise is similar to the one seen at the end of last November just before Thanksgiving. Last year, before vaccines were available to the general public, cases fell off for a week before jumping up more than 14,000 weekly cases more the week after Thanksgiving.

Hospitalizations, which have also risen in the past few weeks after remaining stagnate for nearly two months, remain lower than they were when cases were last this high, attributed largely to the state’s vaccination rate, which is now at nearly 70% of the state’s full 2021 population.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 771 COVID hospitalizations, up from Wednesday’s report of 750
Of that total 156 were in intensive care and 84 were intubated.

Hospitalizations continue to be disproportionately among unvaccinated individuals with 295 of the 771 hospitalizations among people who were fully vaccinated. The remaining 62% are individuals who are either unvaccinated or who have not completed a two-dose vaccination.

The state reported 24 more COVID deaths on Friday. Deaths have ticked up since the summer, but remain a fraction of the daily count the state was seeing at the onset of the virus. The average age of a COVID death is 76, up from 72 last month.

The average age of a new COVID case over the past two weeks is 33.

The case rate continues to be highest among 5- to 9-year-olds with a rate of 811.7 per 100,000 people of that age. Although when it comes to sheer numbers the 30 to 39 age group continues to dominate with the most new cases.

 

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Weekend after thanksgiving
https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/11/covid-hospitalizations-rise-to-839-in-massachusetts-after-new-cases-see-decrease-compared-to-prior-weekend.html

Monday reported another significant rise in [URL='https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/']COVID-19hospitalizations after the state reported 5,497 new cases over the weekend, a decrease of about 20% compared to the prior weekend.[/URL]

Monday’s new COVID-19 data comes as state, national and worldwide leaders are closely monitoring theomicron variant

Massachusetts has seen a rise in case totals and hospitalizations over the last several weeks, as has much of New England and the Upper Midwest. Over the last two weeks, the daily average new case total in Massachusetts has jumped about 80%, according to The New York Times.

But the 5,497 new cases in Massachusetts this past weekend amounts to about a 20% dip compared to the prior weekend

The commonwealth also saw 21 new deaths linked to the virus over the weekend, bringing the pandemic’s death toll to 18,960.

There are currently 839 patients being treated for COVID-19 in Massachusetts hospitals, compared to 771 as of Friday; hospitalizations can include people being treated for other conditions, but who tested positive for the virus. At least 102 patients are intubated and 178 are in intensive care units

According to Monday’s data, about 64% of COVID-19 hospitalizations are among people who are not fully vaccinated

The seven-day average rate of positive tests — which has climbed throughout the month — now stands at 3.72%. A week ago, the rate was 3.07%.

Two cases of the omicron COVID-19variant were reported in Canada on Monday, marking the first time the latest mutation of the virus has officially been detected in North America.

On Monday, WHO said the new omicron variant could lead to surges with “severe consequences.” The United Nation’s health agency, the Associated Press said, flagged “considerable uncertainties” regarding the variant.

With demand swelling for COVID-19 booster shots, Massachusetts is working to expand vaccine “capacity,”Gov. Charlie Baker said on GBH News’ Boston Public Radio Monday afternoon.

 

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COVID breakthrough cases dropped last week while overall cases, hospitalizations continue to rise


Breakthrough COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated Massachusetts residents accounted for fewer of last week’s overall new cases, which climbed yet again.

The state tracked about 6,610 new breakthrough cases over the week ending Nov. 27, about 300 less than the prior week, continuing at least a month-long trend of reports vaccinated people testing positive for the virus making up a smaller portion of overall reported new cases. The breakthrough cases amounted to about 38% of the total new cases reported over the same week, compared to 45% the week prior, and 49% and 52% during the previous two weeks, respectively. The state has seen 77,647 cumulative breakthrough cases as of Nov. 27, DPH said.


The latest data comes as Massachusetts continues to see upticks in new cases and hospitalizations and as local, state and federal leaders dig into data on the new omicron variant, which has sparked concerns about the potential for a new surge this winter.

Public health officials continue to urge more Americans to get vaccinated and boosted; vaccinated people are far less likely to suffer severe cases, be hospitalized or die from the virus.

DPH reported 158 new breakthrough hospitalizations and 32 new deaths among vaccinated people. The cumulative total of vaccinated people who’ve been treated in the hospital remains at only 0.05%, while the death toll is just 0.01%, according to DPH.

The state reported 34,821 new vaccinations, including 20,236 booster shots

Health officials reported at least 2,915 new cases and 31 deaths on Tuesday.

There are currently 906 people listed as hospitalized for COVID-19, which includes patients being treated for other reasons who test positive; that’s 67 more than the 839 reported Monday. Hospitalizations have climbed to levels unseen since earlier this spring. About 35% of the current patients are fully vaccinated. One hundred patients are intubated and 190 are in intensive care units, DPH reported

The seven-day average rate of positive tests has consistently increased and jumped to 4.46% on Tuesday, up from Monday’s 3.72%. A week ago, the rate was 3.07%.

 

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Massachusetts reports 4,838 new COVID cases as hospitalizations near 1,000 patients

Massachusetts reported 4,838 new cases of COVID-19 on Wednesday, a large number even given the recent climb in cases.

Although climbing less rapidly, COVID hospitalizations have nearly doubled in the past month. Hospitalizations fluctuated in the 500s for more than a month and, according to data from the state on Wednesday, have now climbed to 957 — the second day in a row they grew by more than 50.

Those hospitalizations can include those who are being treated for other conditions who tested positive for the virus as well, 204 were in intensive care and 104 were intubated.

Vaccinated individuals continue to be the minority of new cases and hospitalizations with 355 of those hospitalizations among vaccinated individuals. The remaining 63% are among those who are either unvaccinated or who have not completed a two-dose vaccination.

The state reported 25 more confirmed COVID deaths on Wednesday. Deaths have risen since the single-digit daily numbers the state was seeing this summer, but have remained far lower than in previous COVID spikes.

New vaccinations, as well as booster shots, continued to remain high with more than 4.9 million Bay Staters now fully vaccinated and 1,144,982 booster shots administered.

Those ages 5 to 9 continue to be the group testing positive at the highest rate with a rate of 811.7 cases per 100,000 people in that group. However, the bulk of those testing positive continues to be ages 30 to 39. The average age of a COVID case is 34 with the average age of a COVID death being 75.

The first case of the omicron variant has now been identified in the United States. The variant, which has sparked worldwide concerns and new travel restrictions, was reported in California, according to the Associated Press.

 

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Massachusetts confirms 5,170 new COVID cases, highest single-day report since January
Massachusetts public health officials Thursday reported 5,178 new cases of COVID-19 while hospitalizations have increased by nearly 100 over the past few days, approaching 1,000 patients

That’s the highest single-day report of new cases the state has seen since January when the state was at the height of the pandemic.

The high single-day case total comes as Massachusetts and New England face increases in cases and hospitalizations over the last few weeks just as a new concerning variant, omicron, has renewed fears of another wave this winter. Public health officials and President Joe Biden, who released a new plan to combat the pandemic over the coming weeks and months, say the U.S. is better prepared to handle the virus this year in large part because of ongoing vaccination and booster efforts.

At least 865,450 Massachusetts residents have been infected during the pandemic and 19,047 have died as of Thursday.

Hospitalizations have nearly doubled in Massachusetts over the past month, with 989 patients as of Thursday, including 206 in intensive care units and 109 who are intubated. About 37%, or 370 patients, were vaccinated, according to DPH.

The seven-day average rate of positive tests has consistently increased and jumped to 4.94% on Thursday. The rate has increased by almost 1% since Nov. 22

 

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Shiva Ayyadurai is running for Massachusetts governor
Shiva Ayyadurai, an MIT lecturer who’s spoken out against COVID vaccines, is running for governor

 

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So, COVID cases and hospitalizations are rising; Here's what it means

After three weeks of rising, the number of new cases of COVID-19 actually dropped last week. But like the week of Thanksgiving last year, it appears to be blip before continuing upward.

Massachusetts saw about 1,000 fewer cases of COVID last week than the previous week, according to data reported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The drop can largely be attributed to very low test and case counts on Thanksgiving

So far this week, however, the daily report of new cases has seen some of the highest numbers since last winter when the pandemic hit its peak in the Bay State

The state reported 5,179 more cases on Friday after reporting 5,170 on Thursday. Both numbers represent the highest single-day report since January.

Although the rise in cases has closely matched the pattern from November 2020, hospitalizations and deaths remain much lower than they were at this time last year. Nevertheless, COVID hospitalizations have continued to rise and hit 1,003 yesterday — the first time COVID hospitalizations hit that level since February when the state was coming down from its second-largest wave.

COVID hospitalizations can include people who tested positive for the virus while being treated for other conditions, however, the rise and fall has coincided with overall rises in cases.

Of those hospitalizations, 191 are patients in intensive care and 109 are intubated.

The percentage of COVID patients who are fully vaccinated is 37%, which has been fairly consistent for months. The remaining 63% of COVID hospitalizations are among those who are either unvaccinated or who have not completed a two-dose vaccination.

Although confirmed COVID deaths have begun to rise slightly in the past few months, they remain far below earlier pandemic levels. The state reported 27 more deaths Friday. The state’s seven-day average of COVID deaths is 16 per day

The average age of death from COVID is 75. That’s down from the start of the pandemic when the average age was 86.

 

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Mass. reports 11 straight days of increased COVID hospitalizations

Massachusetts averaged 3,733 new COVID-19 cases over the weekend, reporting more than double the number of new cases last weekend, with hospitalizations now up to more than 1,100 after increasing for 11 straight days.

Monday reported 11,199 total cases over the weekend, according to the state Department of Public Health. The prior weekend saw 5,497 new cases, which was a slight dip after several weeks of increases.

At least 881,828 Massachusetts residents have been infected over the course of the pandemic and after the weekend’s 26 deaths, 19,100 have died.

The state continues to see rising hospitalizations, which include patients being treated for other reasons who test positive. Hospitalizations have increased across the country for the last several weeks.

There are currently 1,118 COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts, including 223 in intensive care units and 130 who are intubated. About two thirds of the patients are not vaccinated; 34% are fully vaccinated

Hospitalizations are still below levels seen after last year’s Thanksgiving surge, in large part due to vaccinations preventing severe cases.

The state’s seven-day average rate of positivity is 4.53%.

 

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5 charts that show Massachusetts rise in COVID as state reports 3,720 new cases

Massachusetts on Tuesday reported 3,720 new COVID-19 cases, a 12th straight day of increased hospitalizations and a rise in breakthrough cases among vaccinated people compared to the prior week.

Monday’s report showing 51 new deaths, not according to the state Department of Public Health.

There are currently 1,151 COVID-19 patients in Massachusetts, including 239 in intensive care units and 136 who are intubated. About two thirds of the patients are not vaccinated; 35% are fully vaccinated, DPH reported.

Hospitalizations are still below levels seen after last year’s Thanksgiving surge, in large part due to vaccinations preventing severe illness.

The state reported at least 41,060 new vaccinations, including 26,040 booster shots.

The state’s seven-day average rate of positivity is now 4.86%, up from Monday’s 4.53%.

State health officials reported 11,321 new COVID-19 cases among fully vaccinated people the week ending Dec. 4 — almost 60% more than the previous week.

Last week’s breakthrough cases amounted to nearly half of the newly reported cases over the same period, a 10% increase compared to the prior week, when 6,610 breakthrough caseswere reported. Last week saw a total of almost 23,600 new cases overall, about 6,100 more cases than the week ending Nov. 27.

 

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Massachusetts still among top 10 highest increases in COVID cases, hospitalizations in US

Massachusetts public health officials reported 5,403 new COVID-19 cases and more than 1,200 total hospitalizations on Wednesday, with the state now seeing about a 67% jump in new cases and 50% more hospitalizations over the last two weeks.

According to the state Department of Public Health, at least 890,951 in the commonwealth have contracted the virus to date and after Wednesday’s 12 newly reported deaths, 19,163 have died.

DPH data by test date shows the state reporting about 30,000 new cases the week beginning Nov. 28; that’s more than 2,000 fewer weekly cases at the same time in 2020. Although last week’s number could continue to tick up as cases from last week are reported.

According to national data tracked by The New York Times, Massachusetts has seen new cases rise by about two-thirds over the last two weeks, with a daily average of almost 4,700 confirmed positive tests. The state is also reporting about 950 total daily hospitalizations, a 50% increase over late November. Massachusetts, Connecticut and Rhode Island are each among the top 10 highest increases in new cases and hospitalizations over the last two weeks.

As of Wednesday, 1,204 people are listed as COVID-19 patients, including those being treated for other reasons but who test positive. There are 252 patients in intensive care units and 144 who are intubated, DPH reported. Almost two-thirds of the patients are not vaccinated; about 35 percent, or 417 patients, are fully vaccinated.

The seven-day average rate of positive tests has risen to 4.99%. Last year on Dec. 8, the rate was 6.18%.

 

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Massachusetts reports 53% rise in cases over prior week as US seeing more than 120,000 daily cases

Massachusetts public health officials Thursday reported 5,472 new cases of COVID-19 while hospitalizations continue to climb during an ongoing surge of delta variant cases

Last Thursday saw the state’s highest single-day report of new cases (5,178) since January, at what was then the height of the nearly two-year pandemic; today’s case total was nearly 300 cases higher. The recent uptick — which is still not as severe as last winter now that effective vaccines and boosters are available — is part of a nationwide trend that’s seen daily case totals rise to more than 120,000 per day. The Northeast and Great Lakes regions are bearing the brunt of the new cases

The week beginning Nov. 28, the state reported 30,459 new cases, compared to about 16,350 cases the prior week; about 2,000 cases fewer than the same time period in 2020.

Massachusetts remains among the top 10 states with the highest two-week increases in new cases and hospitalizations, the Times reported.

The state reported 27 new deaths on Thursday.

The state on Thursday reported 59,334 new vaccinations, including 37,700 booster shots.

Hospitalizations have more than doubled since early November with 1,239 total hospitalizations reported Thursday, including 261 in intensive care units and 149 who are intubated. About 34%, or 418 patients, were vaccinated, according to DPH.

Last year at this same time, there were 1,607 COVID-19 patients.

The seven-day average rate of positive tests has consistently increased and is now at 5.01% as of Thursday. The rate was just 2.18% a month ago, but it’s still lower than the 6.13% the state reported on Dec. 9, 2020.

Gov. Charlie Baker said Thursday that are no plans for now to erect field hospitals in Massachusetts to bolster capacity as the state grapples with a surge in cases and severe staffing shortages.

 

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Mass. Confirms 5,007 New COVID Cases, Bringing Total Above 900,000



Massachusetts health officials reported another 5,007 new confirmed COVID-19 cases -- and 27 new deaths Friday.

Friday's total is the third straight day above 5,000 -- the total on Thursdaywas the most new cases confirmed in one day since Jan. 16.

Massachusetts' seven-day average of positive tests rose from 5.01% Thursday to 5.17% on Friday, its highest level since Jan. 21.

The number of patients in Massachusetts hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 cases ticked down to 1,238. The figure was once nearly 4,000, but reached under an average of 85 at one point in July.

Of those currently hospitalized, 411 are fully vaccinated, 266 are in intensive care units and 148 are intubated.

 

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Mass. Medical Society calls for statewide indoor mask mandate amid surging COVID-19 cases


[URL="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2021/12/massachusetts-wont-reinstate-mask-mandate-as-covid-cases-rise-gov-charlie-baker-says.html%3foutputType=amp"]Massachusetts won’t reinstate mask mandate, Gov. Charlie Baker says[/URL]