Massachusetts reports 113 new coronavirus

Governor Charlie Baker takes questions from the media at Mill City BBQ and Brew in Lowell, MA, September 23, 2020.

Craig F. Walker/Globe Pool

Governor Charlie Baker takes questions from the media at Mill City BBQ and Brew in Lowell, MA, September 23, 2020.

By Frankie Rowley, Content Managing Editor

Massachusetts reported 113 new coronavirus cases Saturday, down from the 121 cases reported Friday. The death toll rose by 2.

Saturday’s report marks the sixth time this week cases have fallen below 200. Cases statewide have plummeted in recent weeks, regularly falling below 500 per day and reaching levels not seen since last summer. 

The state reports two COVID-19 positivity rates—one with higher education testing and one without. On Saturday, the seven-day test positivity rate with higher education testing removed sat at 0.6 percent—the lowest mark the state has reported since it began tracking the metric. This time last week, it sat at 0.8 percent. The rate that includes higher education sits at 0.4 percent. 

The state reported 136 hospitalizations Saturday, down from the 181 reported this time last week. 

On Saturday, Massachusetts reported 20,631 new vaccinations, bringing the state’s total to 8,256,062. More than 57 percent of the state’s population is now fully inoculated against COVID-19—meaning they have received both doses of the vaccines manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer-BioNTech, or one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 

Emerson’s latest dashboard update reported no positive COVID-19 tests out of the 64 last administered. 

Since summer testing began on May 3, Emerson has reported one positive test out of the 1,922 tests administered.