Massachusetts reported 1,480 new coronavirus cases Monday, down from the 1,820 new infections reported Sunday. The death toll rose by 32.
The 1,276 new cases reported Feb. 8 marked the lowest number reported by the state since Nov. 30.
Infections have declined steadily across the state in the past two months, with February reporting lows that haven’t been seen since November, following the record highs likely fueled by Christmas holiday travels.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health announced on Sunday 19 new cases of the B.1.1.7 COVID-19 variant first discovered in the United Kingdom had been found in Massachusetts, bringing the state’s total to 29. The U.K. variant is believed to be 50 percent more transmissible than strains of the virus currently spreading.
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 3.5 percent Monday, down from the 4.6 percent reported this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 2.2 percent.
The state reported 1,107 total hospitalizations on Monday, down from the 1,387 reported this time last week. Hospitalizations in the state have declined steadily since early January, after they rose by nearly 300 week over week for much of November and December.
Emerson reported three new positive out of the 963 tests administered Friday and 1,182 tests administered on Thursday, Feb. 11. The latest dashboard update also reported that five community members are in on-campus isolation and 23 are in on-campus quarantine.
Since testing resumed on Jan. 11, the college has reported 66 positive cases—topping the 60 positive tests reported over the entire fall semester—and a positivity rate of .33 percent.
