Massachusetts reported 1,822 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a rise from the 1,679 new infections reported Friday. The death toll rose by 53.
Saturday marks the ninth 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 3.4 percent Saturday, down from the 3.8 percent reported this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 2.0 percent.
The state reported 970 total hospitalizations on Saturday, down from the 1,149 reported this time last week. Saturday’s total marks the first time hospitalizations dipped under 1,000 since Nov. 26.
Massachusetts reported 49,250 vaccinations administered on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 1,372,906.
Emerson’s most recent dashboard update revealed one new positive COVID-19 test of the 447 tests administered on Feb. 18.
