Massachusetts reported 203 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a slight decline from the 253 new infections reported Friday. The death toll rose by 9.
Saturday’s report marks the third time this week cases have topped 200. Cases statewide have plummeted in recent weeks, regularly falling below 500 per day and reaching levels not seen since September, when cases were at their absolute nadir.
The continued dip in cases comes as Massachusetts lifted all of its remaining COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday.
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 1.0 percent, down from 1.5 percent this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 0.7 percent. Both figures are at their lowest points since at least August.
The state reported 236 hospitalizations Saturday, down from the 281 reported this time last week.
On Saturday, Massachusetts reported 48,604 new vaccinations, bringing the state’s total to 7,797,000. More than 52 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 most recent dashboard update reported no new positive COVID-19 tests out of just 34 tests administered.
