Massachusetts reported 1,887 new coronavirus cases Friday, a slight increase from the 1,857 new infections reported Thursday. The death toll rose by 43.
Cases in the state have steadily declined over the past two months; following a spike after the winter holidays, numbers are now reaching lows last seen in late October,.
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 removed sat at 3.5 percent. That number has not fluctuated by more than half a percent in the last month. The rate that includes higher education sits at 2.0 percent.
The state reported 586 total hospitalizations Friday, down from the 641 reported this time last week. Hospitalizations have declined substantially over the course of the past month after they spiked amid the state’s wintertime surge.
Massachusetts reported 70,475 vaccinations administered on Thursday, bringing the state’s total to 2,804,935. About 13 percent of the state’s population is fully inoculated against COVID-19—meaning they have received both doses of the vaccines manufactured by Moderna or Pfizer, or one dose of the newly approved Johnson & Johnson vaccine.
Emerson’s most recent dashboard update revealed one new positive COVID-19 test, bringing the spring semester’s total to 102—a 68 percent increase from the fall semester. The cumulative positivity rate sits at 0.22 percent, a number which continues to decline.
Friday’s dashboard update also reported two community members in isolation on campus and one in quarantine on campus.
Those in quarantine may have been exposed to COVID-19 but aren’t experiencing symptoms. Those in isolation are symptomatic, have produced a positive test, or are “reasonably known to be infected,” according to the college. Off-campus students are not counted in the quarantine and isolation numbers.
