Mass. COVID-19 average positive rate increases for 3rd day, hospitalizations and active cases drop

Massachusetts saw an increase in cases, deaths, and average positive test rate in Wednesday’s COVID-19 report.

Massachusetts saw 1,370 more positive cases announced today. An increase from Tuesday’s report. The 7 day weighted average positive test rate increased for a third straight day as the rate went to 2.14% from 2.11%. On March 8th, the rate was 1.78%.

Massachusetts had seen 968 more positive cases announced yesterday.

The Massachusetts Department of Health statistics show a rise in total confirmed cases to 635,045 with 14 more reported dead (13 confirmed, 1 probable) for a total of 17,498 (17,151 confirmed, 347 probable).

The overall amount of tests administered in Massachusetts is now 20,599,779 after 77,068 new molecular tests.

The 7 day average of confirmed COVID-19 deaths increased by 0.3 to 7.4. At the beginning of February, the average death rate was 70+.

Estimated active cases saw a decrease by 900+ to 32,134.

Hospitalizations have increased in 88 of the last 163 days, but saw a decrease of 22 to lower the total to 686. Before the previous 4+ weeks of mainly increases, COVID-19 hospitalizations had been on the decrease as there were 2,428 in the Bay State on January 4th. Late last month’s total of 580 was the lowest since November 7th.

Nursing home cases and cluster information issued on April 15th.

Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report

According to the April 15th report, Fall River has a 35.5 Average Daily COVID-19 Rate per 100,000 population (Last 14 days) (37.2 last week). New Bedford saw a decrease to 34.9 (was 36.2). Westport saw a decrease to 25.2 (was 28.6), Swansea is at 36.3, an increase, and was 29.1 last week. Somerset also saw an increase as they sit at 30.5 (was 27.00). Freetown stands at 30.0 a decrease from 36.3. Dartmouth is currently at 26.0, a jump from last week’s 23.3. Acushnet saw 20.5 (was 24.6).

59 Massachusetts communities are still in the red (high risk) which is down from 77 last week. 55 were in the red the week before and 32 the week before that. Adams, Avon, Ayer, Barnstable, Brewster, Brockton, Chelmsford, Chicopee, Dennis, Dighton, Dracut, Edgartown, Fall River, Freetown, Hamilton, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Holyoke, Lawrence, Lee, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Mashpee, Methuen, Middleborough, Milford, Monson, Nantucket, New Bedford, Oak Bluffs, Orange, Paxton, Plainville, Plymouth, Rehoboth, Revere, Saugus, Seekonk, Somerset, Southwick, Springfield, Sterling, Sutton, Swansea, Taunton, Templeton, Tisbury, Tyngsboro, Wareham, West Boyleston, West Bridgewater, West Springfield, Westport, Whitman, Williamstown, and Yarmouth.

Massachusetts Officials have issued a “vaccine doses administered and shipped” report updated on April 15th.

As of April 21st, according to the CDC, the United States has seen 31,602,676 cases of COVID-19 with 565,613 reported deaths.

(Graphics courtesy of CDC)