Massachusetts reported 2,973 new coronavirus cases Sunday, marking the first time single day infections have fallen below 3,000 since Dec. 7. The state recorded 100 new deaths, well over the seven-day average.
The death count topped the seven-day average two other times this week; on Wednesday, Massachusetts reported 81 new deaths and on Thursday, the state reported 76 new deaths. The seven-day average currently sits at 50.
At the virus’s first peak in late April, daily cases in Massachusetts averaged just over 2,000. This week, daily cases averaged over 4,000.
The seven-day test positivity rate with higher education testing removed sits at 7.32 percent. The positivity rate that includes higher education testing sits at 6.28 percent. The overall positivity rate has ticked up slightly—by half a percent—over the course of the past few weeks while the rate without higher education testing has trended down.
On Saturday, the state reported 2,156 total hospitalizations, compared to 1,919 this time last week. In past weeks, hospitalizations have grown by about 300 week over week.
Emerson does not update its COVID-19 dashboard over the weekends as no new tests are administered at Tufts Medical Center. Testing of community members has ticked down significantly due to in-person classes ending Nov. 25 and only a limited number of students living on campus over the break continue to receive regular screening.
Monday’s dashboard update revealed no new positives out of just 82 tests. Last month, Emerson reported 28 new positives, compared to 32 between early August and late November.
