Health officials in Massachusetts reported another 1,115 confirmed cases of the new coronavirus and 7 more deaths on Saturday as the numbers of hospitalizations and cases of COVID-19 continue to decline in the state.
The update puts the total of confirmed cases at 646,982 and the death toll at 17,266, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Another 351 deaths are considered probably linked to COVID-19.
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The average number of coronavirus cases, average coronavirus test positivity and average number of confirmed deaths reported each day have been falling since the end of March, according to trends posted to the Department of Public Health's interactive coronavirus dashboard.
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On Saturday, the seven-day average of positive tests was at 1.56%, down from Friday's 1.65%.
The number of patients in Massachusetts hospitals with confirmed COVID-19 cases dropped again, to 541. Among those patients, 146 were listed as being in intensive care units and 78 were intubated. The average age of those hospitalized was 61.
Health officials' projection of active COVID-19 cases dropped below 25,000, decreasing by almost 850 cases to 24,631 from Friday's 25,474.
As of Saturday, more than 6.1 million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine have been administered in Massachusetts, including more than 3.6 million first doses and more than 2.3 million second doses of the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. There have been more than 209,000 doses of the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine administered. More than 2.5 million people have been fully immunized in the Bay State.
A Massachusetts bakery is offering a sweet treat to anyone who can prove they have received a coronavirus vaccine. Table Talk Pies is offering a free 4-inch snack pie to customers only at their Worcester retail store who can show their vaccination cards to prove they have received at least one shot. The offer is good for the foreseeable future, the company said.
More on COVID-19 in Massachusetts
The latest report comes as Massachusetts residents who are able to socially distance from others no longer have to wear a mask outdoors. Gov. Charlie Baker earlier this week announced that the state was relaxing the outdoor mask mandate as of Friday. Masks are now only required outside in public when it's not possible to maintain a distance of approximately 6 feet from others or when required for other reasons, including at outdoor events.
Face coverings will still be required at all times in indoor public places, including stores. Store owners can still refuse entry to any customer who refuses to put on a mask. Face coverings will also continue to be required at all times at events, whether held indoors or outdoors and whether held in a public space or private home, except when eating or drinking.
At smaller gatherings in private homes, face coverings are recommended but not required. The $300 fine that had been put in place as an enforcement mechanism, but was rarely used, will also be eliminated.
This was the third consecutive week that the number of Massachusetts cities and towns considered at high risk for COVID-19 transmission fell, according to the state Department of Public Health. There were 26 communities at high-risk this week, down from 48 last week and 59 two weeks ago, the department reported Thursday. The number of cities and towns in the so-called "red zone" peaked at 229 in mid-January. The state has 351 distinct municipalities. The red-zone communities are concentrated in the Springfield area, the Merrimack Valley and southeastern Massachusetts.
