Mass. COVID-19 daily reported cases increase for fourth straight day as average positive test rate back over 2%

Massachusetts saw an increase in cases, active cases, and positive test rate in Friday’s COVID-19 report.

Massachusetts saw 1,887 more positive cases announced today. An increase from Thursday’s report. The 7 day weighted average positive test rate saw another increase to 2.01%. The highest since February 19th. A week ago Sunday’s 1.66% was the lowest it has been since October 22nd.

Massachusetts had seen 1,857 more positive cases announced yesterday.

The Massachusetts Department of Health statistics show a rise in total confirmed cases to 576,022 with 44 more reported dead (43 confirmed, 1 probable) for a total of 16,803 (16,469 confirmed, 334 probable).

The overall amount of tests administered in Massachusetts is now 17,821,227 after 106,772 new molecular tests.

The 7 day average of confirmed COVID-19 deaths is currently 23.9.

Estimated active cases saw an increase to 25,986.

Hospitalizations have increased in 96 of the last 177 days and 71 of the last 136, but saw a decrease of 6, to lower the total to 586. COVID-19 hospitalizations have continued to decrease as of late as there were 2,428 in the Bay State on January 4th. Today’s total is the lowest since November 8th.

Nursing home cases and cluster information issued on March 18th.

Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report

According to the March 18th report, Fall River has a 22.0 Average Daily COVID-19 Rate per 100,000 population (Last 14 days) (23.0 last week). New Bedford saw a decrease to 18.7 (was 21.0). Westport saw an increase to 20.5 (was 17.9), Swansea is at 14.3 and was 18.4 last week. Somerset also saw a decrease as they sit at 12.0 (was 17.0). Freetown stayed at 28.4 which is tops in Bristol County. Dartmouth is currently at 16.0 after seeing 18.3 last week. Acushnet saw 23.9 (was 21.2).

20 Massachusetts communities are still in the red (high risk) which is up from 14 last week. Barnstable, Chicopee, Dighton, Douglas, Fall River, Freetown, Hanson, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lowell, Methuen, Millis, Plymouth, Revere, Rutland, Southwick, Sterling, Sutton, West Bridgewater, and Yarmouth.

Massachusetts residents subject to COVID-19 quarantine by current status up to March 18th
• Total of individuals subject to quarantine: 271,089
• Total of individuals who have completed monitoring (no longer in quarantine): 261,430
• Total of individuals currently undergoing monitoring/under quarantine: 9,659

Massachusetts Officials have issued a “vaccine doses administered and shipped” report updated on March 18th.

As of March 19th, according to the CDC, the United States has seen 29,490,832 cases of COVID-19 with 536,734 reported deaths.

(Graphics courtesy of CDC)