Politics & Government

Positive Coronavirus Test Rate Drops Back Below 2 Percent

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 15 new deaths and 390 new coronavirus cases in its daily report.

The state had seen a slight increase in the daily positive test rate in recent days as schools reopened and outbreaks were reported at some Massachusetts colleges.
The state had seen a slight increase in the daily positive test rate in recent days as schools reopened and outbreaks were reported at some Massachusetts colleges. (Shutterstock)

MASSACHUSETTS —The daily, positive coronavirus test rate dipped back below 1.95 percent as the state conducted 17,399 new molecular tests, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health said Sunday.

The state had seen a slight increase in the daily positive test rate in recent days as schools reopened and outbreaks were reported at some Massachusetts colleges.

Also on Sunday, the state reported 15 additional coronavirus deaths, bringing the number of Massachusetts residents who died from the virus to 9,100 since the first death was reported March 20. The state reported an additional 390 confirmed coronavirus cases, bringing the statewide total to 125,479 since the first case was reported Feb. 1.

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While the number of people hospitalized for coronavirus increased by 2 to 364 from Saturday's report, the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care units in Massachusetts fell to 61 from 65.

The state marked its lowest positive coronavirus test rate at 0.8 percent last week, but it also marked a new high for communities at high risk of the virus. Six new communities were in the "red" in the state's latest coronavirus map, upping the number of communities at high risk for COVID-19 infections to 17.

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Nantucket, Plainville, Saugus, Tyngsborough, Worcester and Wrentham were moved into the high-risk category, joining Chelsea, Dedham, Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Lynnfield, Monson, New Bedford, Revere and Winthrop.


Dave Copeland writes for Patch and can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).


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