Massachusetts COVID cases drop 21% over the weekend, more than 2 million rapid tests to be distributed

State well being officers on Monday reported simply over 4,000 COVID instances over the weekend, one other virus drop because the state introduced it would start distributing greater than 2 million speedy exams to cities and cities.

The state Division of Public Well being reported a every day common of 1,334 COVID instances over the weekend, which was down 21% from the every day price of 1,687 infections final weekend.

The omicron BA.2 variant and the BA.2.12.1 subvariant have contributed to a latest improve in instances. The Boston-area COVID-19 wastewater information had been rising, however then the predictive wastewater ranges began falling once more.

The state’s constructive check common had been leaping, however has trended down over the previous couple of weeks. The typical is now 5.61% — down from 6.55% final week. The typical for the weekend report was decrease at 5.12%.

In the meantime, Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration on Monday introduced that the state this week will start distributing greater than 2 million speedy exams for municipalities to offer to residents.

“This initiative builds upon the Commonwealth’s nation-leading efforts to make testing accessible for residents all through the pandemic,” Baker stated in an announcement. “Together with vaccines and coverings, testing stays an necessary device to handle COVID, which is why we are going to proceed to make sure testing assets stay extensively out there.”

The state reported 13 new COVID-19 deaths, bringing the whole recorded loss of life toll to twenty,763. The seven-day common of every day deaths is now 9, which had been a lot larger following the omicron hospitalization surge.

There at the moment are 550 COVID sufferers hospitalized within the state, a rise of 17 sufferers from Friday’s rely. Hospitalizations had been spiking for a number of weeks amid the omicron surge however then began falling once more.

The state reported that fifty sufferers are in intensive care items, and 14 sufferers are at the moment intubated.

Virtually 5.4 million individuals are absolutely vaccinated, and greater than 3 million folks have obtained a booster dose. Additionally, the state reported 534,443 extra boosters have been administered.