Massachusetts coronavirus cases up 1,492, positive test rate stays lower

Massachusetts health officials on Wednesday reported 1,492 new coronavirus cases, as COVID-19 hospitalizations increased and the positive test rate remained at a lower level.

Infections have surged with the more contagious delta variant, but cases have been significantly down in recent weeks. The single-day average of COVID-19 cases is now 970, compared to 1,895 cases three weeks ago.

The average percent positivity is now 1.83%. The rate has been coming down from 2.98% last month.

The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 1.47%.

State health officials reported 27 new COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 18,707. The daily average of COVID deaths is now 11.9, compared to the record-low average of 1.3 in mid July.

After COVID hospitalizations ticked up by five patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 589 patients.

There are now 156 patients in intensive care units, and 88 patients are intubated.

Of the total 589 patients, 194 patients are fully vaccinated — or about 33%. Those who are unvaccinated are at a much higher risk for a severe case and hospitalization.

The most COVID patient admissions during the past two weeks have been in the 80-plus age group, accounting for 178 patients.

The 70-79 age group had 176 patients, the 50-59 age group had 173 patients, the 60-69 age group had 163 patients, the 30-39 age group had 107 patients, the 40-49 age group had 105 patients, and the 20-29 age group had 61 patients.

There were three patients who are 18 or 19 years old, six patients between 12 and 17 years old, and seven patients under 12.

The state Department of Public Health released its weekly age group data, showing that the 20-29 age group continues to account for the most COVID cases.

The 20-29 age group had 3,272 cases during the last two weeks, followed by the 30-39 age group with 3,040 cases.

The next highest age group is 40-49 with 2,339 cases, and then it’s the 50-59 age group with 2,182 cases.

More than 4.6 million people in Massachusetts are fully vaccinated, and more than 5.1 million people have gotten at least one shot of the vaccine. The state reported that 152,477 people have gotten a booster dose.