Massachusetts reported 494 new coronavirus cases Sunday, a decline from the 657 new infections reported Saturday. The death toll rose by 5.
Sunday’s report marks the fourth time cases have dipped below 500 this week after cases topped 600 yesterday due to the addition of delayed results from Friday’s report due to a “reporting lag” at a large laboratory responsible for processing some of the state’s COVID-19 tests.
The state reports two COVID-19 positivity rates—one with higher education testing and one without. On Sunday, the seven-day test positivity rate with higher education testing removed sat at 1.7 percent, down from 2.1 percent this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 1.0 percent.
The state reported 337 hospitalizations Sunday, down from the 438 reported this time last week. Sunday’s report marks the lowest hospitalization figure since Oct. 19, when 342 people were hospitalized with the virus.
On Sunday, Massachusetts reported 48,671 new vaccinations, bringing the state’s total to 7,142,495. Over 44 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 reported no new positive COVID-19 tests on Friday out of the 97 tests administered on Thursday. Zero community members were reported to be in on-campus isolation and quarantine.
The spring semester testing cycle concluded with 169 positive COVID-19 tests reported and a positivity rate of 0.21 percent, compared to the 60 cases and 0.12 percent positivity rate reported in the fall. Over the fall and spring semesters, 229 positive tests were reported, adding up to a 0.17 percent positivity rate.
