Massachusetts reported 657 new coronavirus cases Saturday, a rise from the 337 new infections reported Friday. The death toll rose by 5.
Due to the Department of Public Health’s “reporting lag from a large laboratory,” Friday’s missing case numbers have been added to today’s total of new COVID-19 cases, which marks the third time cases have topped 500 this week.
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 1.7 percent, down from 2.2 percent this time last week. The rate that includes higher education sits at 1.03 percent.
The state reported 352 hospitalizations Saturday, down from the 441 reported this time last week. Saturday’s report marks the lowest hospitalization figure since Oct. 21, when 354 people were hospitalized with the virus.
On Saturday, Massachusetts reported 66,675 new vaccinations, bringing the state’s total to 7,093,824. 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’s 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.
