MA Reports 5,657 Cases, 74 Deaths, Positive Test Rate Falls

MASSACHUSETTS — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 5,657 new cases of the coronavirus Saturday, bringing the statewide total to 444,028. Seventy-four new deaths were confirmed; the state's death toll attributed to the coronavirus now stands at 13,305.

But the positivity rate continued a decline that began on Jan. 1, with the seven-day average falling to 6.15 percent, the lowest level since Dec. 22.

Hospitalizations showed the same trend, with 2,197 coronavirus patients in hospitals Friday, down from 2,428 on Jan 4. Of those, 433 are in intensive care and 294 are intubated.

According to the most recent weekly vaccination report, 206,190 residents have received at least one vaccine dose, with 32,984 having received both doses.

There are an estimated 98,317 active cases in Massachusetts, the state report.

Recent data show higher positive rates among younger demographics. For the most recent two-week period — Dec. 27 to Jan. 9 — there were 15,161 cases among those 20 to 29, the most for any age group, followed by 14,820 cases among younger people.

There were 3,041 cases among those 80 and older.

Test rates show the same pattern, with over 15 percent of those under 30 testing positive but just 5.1 percent of those over 80.

The Department of Health this week designated 229 cities and towns as high risk for the coronavirus in the latest community-level report, putting nearly two-thirds of the state's 351 communities in the red category.