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Massachusetts reports jump in new coronavirus cases as variant spreads, 1 death reported
Hospitalizations ticked down

BOSTON, MA – March 11: Danny Coakley of the NEW Health – North End Waterfront Health gives out free COVID-19 test kits outside of their North End site on March 11, 2022 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Staff Photo By Matt Stone/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)

By RICK SOBEY | [e-mail] | Boston Herald
PUBLISHED: March 23, 2022 at 5:11 p.m. | UPDATED: March 23, 2022 at 6:00 p.m.

State health officials on Wednesday reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases, as COVID-19 infection rates start to jump again in the Bay State with a new variant on the rise.

The state Department of Public Health’s report of 1,074 cases is up 48% from last Wednesday’s total of 725 infections.

The omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant now accounts for more than 55% of cases in New England, according to the CDC. The subvariant has sparked a rise in virus cases across Europe, along with more people gathering indoors without masks.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts’ average percent positivity has climbed to 1.91%. The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 1.67%.

State health officials reported one COVID death, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,058. The one death was the lowest daily death count since July.

The daily average of COVID deaths is now four. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations ticked down by six patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 231 patients. Hospitalizations had been spiking at a rapid pace amid the omicron surge, but then plunged.

Of the hospitalized COVID patients statewide, 31% of patients were reported as being hospitalized due to COVID — and 69% of hospitalized patients were reported as testing positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons.

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Across the state, there are now 39 coronavirus patients in intensive care units, and 18 patients are intubated.

During the last two weeks, the 20-29 age group in the state had the most reported cases. That age group’s 1,984 cases topped the 30-39 age group’s 1,289 cases.

More than 5.3 million people in Massachusetts are now fully vaccinated, and more than 6.1 million people have gotten at least one shot. More than 2.9 million people have gotten a booster dose.


Author

Rick Sobey is a multimedia, general assignment reporter -- covering breaking news, politics and more across the region. He was mos