Public health officials reported another 74 deaths and 5,657 new coronavirus cases on Saturday as the estimated number of active cases in Massachusetts nears 100.000.
The Department of Public Health estimates there are currently 98.317 active cases of the highly contagious virus in the commonwealth.
The 5,657 new cases reported Saturday bring the total number of confirmed cases in Massachusetts since the pandemic began to 444.028. Another 142 probable cases were reported, for a combined confirmed and probable tally of 465.726.
Another 112,120 tests were also reported Saturday, for a total of nearly 12.3 million.
The seven-day average positivity was 6.2%. With testing at higher education institutions removed, that average was 7.4%.
There are 2.197 patients currently hospitalized due to the virus, down from more than 2.200 earlier in the week and from more than 2.400 last week. As of Saturday, there were 433 patients in intensive care units and 294 who were intubated.
The 74 new fatalities bring the state’s confirmed COVID-19 toll to 13.305. With deaths linked to probable cases included, that rises to 13.583.
Long-term care facilities have now reported 7.747 deaths linked to COVID-19. There are 418 facilities that have reported at least one confirmed or probable case, and 32.661 residents and health care workers who have been sickened.
More than 2 million people have now died from COVID-19 worldwide as the U.S. approaches its own grim milestone of 400.000. There have been 94 million coronavirus cases reported worldwide, including more than 23 million in the U.S., according to the Johns Hopkins University tracker. (BOSTON HERALD)
