The number of active COVID-19 cases in Massachusetts has increased in the past week and new coronavirus infections are outpacing recoveries, according to data released Wednesday by the Department of Public Health.
Last week, there were 2,586 people isolated with confirmed cases of COVID-19, and DPH said this week there were 2,712 people in isolation.
The increase in active and confirmed cases of respiratory disease is only the second since DPH began reporting the number in early June that there was an increase.
Between the report released July 15 and the report released July 22, Massachusetts confirmed 1,285 new cases of COVID-19. During the same time period, 1,062 people recovered from their episodes with the disease and 97 people died from the virus.
When the state began reporting the number of recoveries and people in isolation on June 3, there were 7,012 people in isolation. That number of active cases rose to 7,300 in the June 10 report, but has since been falling or stable every week.
The increase in the number of people carrying the highly contagious virus comes as Massachusetts is in the third of four phases of reopening its economy and as it prepares plans for the upcoming school year.
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