Massachusetts reports 1,115 new COVID cases, virus hospitalizations rise

State well being officers on Wednesday reported 1,115 new COVID instances because the optimistic take a look at price remained larger and virus hospitalizations additionally jumped.

The rise in virus information comes as each the omicron BA.5 and BA.4 subvariants are gaining steam domestically. The brand new variants apparently evade the immune response from prior omicron strains, making it extra infectious.

The BA.5 variant now represents 41.6% of latest instances in New England, up from 29.6% final week, in line with the up to date CDC variant tracker. The BA.4 variant now represents 17.8% of latest instances throughout the area, up from 15% final week.

The beforehand dominant BA.2.12.1 subvariant now accounts for 38.1% of latest instances, down from 50.7% final week.

The Massachusetts Division of Public Well being’s day by day report of 1,115 new COVID instances on Wednesday was down from final Wednesday’s whole of 1,529 infections, however testing was considerably decrease this week.

The state’s common p.c positivity is now 7.09%, up from 5.74% right now final week. The p.c positivity for Wednesday’s report was 7.12%.

State well being officers on Wednesday reported 18 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s whole recorded dying toll to twenty,996. The day by day common of COVID deaths is now 5. The dying price had been a lot larger after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations rose by 9 sufferers, the state’s general affected person rely is now 518. Whole hospitalizations have been plateauing within the final couple of weeks.

There are actually 44 sufferers in intensive care models and 15 sufferers who’re intubated.

Greater than 5.4 million folks within the state have been absolutely vaccinated, and greater than 3.1 million folks have gotten a booster shot. Additionally, the state reported that 584,525 further booster doses have been administered.