Massachusetts coronavirus cases spike 2,996 over the weekend, hospitalizations keep climbing – Boston Herald

Health officials on Monday reported a spike of 2,996 coronavirus cases over the weekend, as infections continue to surge at a troubling pace amid the more highly contagious delta variant.

Every Massachusetts county is now at high risk or substantial risk for COVID transmission, according to the CDC tracker, but Gov. Charlie Baker on Monday said he would not be implementing an indoor mask mandate amid spiking cases. Many communities, instead of waiting for Baker, have ordered mask mandates for everyone regardless of their vaccination status.

After the new 2,996 COVID infections reported over the weekend, the Bay States seven-day average of virus cases is now 911. Thats more than 14 times the daily average of 64 cases in June.

The average percent positivity is now at 2.74%, which is nearly nine times the daily average of 0.31% in June.

State health officials on Monday also reported six new COVID deaths from over the weekend, bringing the states total recorded death toll to 18,148.

Virus deaths have been higher in the last week after several weeks of rising cases and hospitalizations. The seven-day average of COVID deaths is now 5.7, up from the record-low daily average of 1.1 in mid July.

Hospitalizations continued to increase over the weekend. The state reported a jump of 27 COVID patients, bringing the statewide total of COVID patients to 402.

There are now 82 patients in intensive care units, and 38 patients are intubated.

The overall count of 402 patients is more than five times the count of 80 COVID patients on July 4. The 402 patients is back to where the state was in mid May.

More than 4.4 million people in Massachusetts have been fully vaccinated.

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Massachusetts coronavirus cases spike 2,996 over the weekend, hospitalizations keep climbing - Boston Herald