Massachusetts reported 1,316 new coronavirus cases Sunday, a sharp decline from the 1,822 new infections reported Saturday. The death toll rose by 46.
Sunday marks the tenth day in a row cases have fallen below 2,000 in the state. Cases topped 2,000 each day from Nov. 30 to Feb. 2.
On Friday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced the second confirmed case of the B.1.315 COVID-19 variant first discovered in South Africa, and 15 more cases of the B.1.1.7 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom, bringing the state’s total to 44.
The state reports two COVID-19 positivity rates—one with higher education testing and one without. The seven-day test positivity rate with higher education removed sat at 3.2 percent Sunday, down from the 3.5 percent reported this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 1.9 percent, the lowest since Oct. 27.
The state reported 927 total hospitalizations on Sunday, down from the 1,125 reported this time last week. Sunday’s total marks just the second time hospitalizations dipped under 1,000 since Nov. 26.
Massachusetts reported 40,983 vaccinations administered on Sunday, bringing the state’s total to 1,413,889.
Emerson’s most recent dashboard update revealed one new positive COVID-19 test of the 447 tests administered on Feb. 18.
