Massachusetts sees lowest virus hospitalizations since October, active cases fall below 20,000

Massachusetts saw a decrease in cases, active cases, and hospitalizations in Friday’s COVID-19 report.

Massachusetts saw 881 more positive cases announced today, a decrease from Thursday’s report. The 7 day weighted average positive test rate increased from 1.37% to 1.39% Yesterday’s percentage was the lowest since October 18th.

Massachusetts had seen 1,004 more positive cases announced yesterday. The lowest since October.

Courtesy of MDPH

The Massachusetts Department of Health statistics show a rise in total confirmed cases to 651,740 with 5 more reported dead (5 confirmed, 0 probable) for a total of 17,668 (17,316 confirmed, 352 probable).

The overall amount of tests administered in Massachusetts is now 21,840,584 after 78,071 new molecular tests.

The 7 day average of confirmed COVID-19 deaths decreased by 2.6 to 5.0. At the beginning of February, the average death rate was 70+.

Estimated active cases saw a decrease by 1500+ to 19,784. In the last 17 days, active cases have decreased by almost 14,500.

Hospitalizations have increased in 90 of the last 179 days, but saw a decrease of 10 to lower the total to 459. Hospitalizations have decreased in 15 of the last 17 days after a period of mainly increases. There were 2,428 in the Bay State on January 4th. Today’s total of 459 active hospitalizations is the lowest since October 30.

Nursing home cases and cluster information issued on May 6th.

Weekly COVID-19 Public Health Report

According to the May 6th report, Fall River has a 21.4 Average Daily COVID-19 Rate per 100,000 population (Last 14 days) (25.8 last week). New Bedford, who has the highest rate in Bristol County, saw a decrease to 32.0 (was 35). Westport saw a decrease to 19.2 (was 22.6), Swansea is at 17.0, a decrease, and was 26.4 last week. Somerset saw a decrease as they sit at 13.9 (was 17.4). Freetown stands at 16.6 a decrease from 19.7. Dartmouth is currently at 19.4, an increase from last week’s 18.7. Acushnet decreased to 23.9 (was 30.1). Berkley is at 22.0 and was 39.8 last week.

13 Massachusetts communities are still in the red (high risk) which is down from 26 last week. 48 were in the red the week before. Brockton, Chicopee, Dracut, Edgartown, Haverhill, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, Nantucket, New Bedford, Rochester, Springfield & Taunton.

Massachusetts Officials have issued a “vaccine doses administered and shipped” report updated on May 6th.

As of May 7th, according to the CDC, the United States has seen 32,403,159 cases of COVID-19 with 577,041 reported deaths.

(Graphics courtesy of CDC)