BOSTON — Massachusetts health officials announced 30 new COVID-19 deaths Wednesday, bringing the total deaths among confirmed cases to more than 8,000 statewide.
Patients with a positive molecular test for COVID-19 are counted as confirmed cases. Patients with a positive serology/antibody test and either coronavirus-like symptoms or likely exposure to COVID-19 are counted as probable cases.
Adding the 8,028 confirmed virus deaths with deaths classified as probable brings the total number of fatalities to 8,243 statewide as of Wednesday, according to the state Department of Public Health.
The average age of those who have died from the virus in Massachusetts is 82. No one age 19 or younger has died from the virus.
Health officials also reported 162 new confirmed coronavirus cases Wednesday, bringing the total statewide to 104,961.
Wednesday’s numbers continue to show positive trends in key statistical categories monitored by the state, including the positive test rate and the number of infected patients who are currently hospitalized.
The seven-day weighted average of positive test rate — which was 6.2% on June 1 — was 2% as of Wednesday. Since April 15, the total has dropped 93%.
The average age of confirmed cases is 51.
Hospitalizations reached 662 people on Wednesday, an increase of 41 compared to Tuesday’s total.
Despite the increase, the three-day average of COVID-19 patients in state hospitals has dropped 82% since mid-April. On April 21 — at the peak — the total number of infected patients in hospitals statewide was 3,965.
Of Wednesday’s 662 patients who are hospitalized, 102 are in intensive care units and 49 are intubated. The average age of those hospitalized is 68.
Despite the positive trends in Massachusetts, the percentage of tests coming back positive for the virus is on the rise across nearly every state nationwide.
According to an Associated Press article released Wednesday, the positive test rates have hit almost 27% in Arizona, 19% in Florida and 17% in South Carolina.
There have been 3 million confirmed infections in the U.S. and more than 130,000 deaths caused by the coronavirus outbreak.
Below is the total COVID-19 infections by city and town from Jan. 1 through Wednesday and how that total compares to last week’s numbers:
• Ashburnham – 32 (no change)
• Ashby – 15 (no change)
• Ayer – 142 (+2)
• Fitchburg – 800 (+5)
• Gardner – 195 (no change)
• Groton – 43 (no change)
• Lancaster – 101 (+1)
• Leominster – 702 (+8)
• Lunenburg – 64 (+1)
• Pepperell – 52 (no change)
• Princeton – 6 (no change)
• Rutland – 53 (no change)
• Shirley – 177 (+1)
• Sterling – 122 (no change)
• Townsend – 35 (no change)
• Westminster – 32 (no change)
The state also released the numbers of patients currently being treated and those treated in the ICU.
HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital’s Leominster’s campus was treating seven patients with one in the ICU.
Heywood Hospital in Gardner had four COVID-19 patients admitted with one in the ICU.
Nashoba Valley Medical Center has no patients as of Wednesday.
