Massachusetts health officials reported 28 new deaths from coronavirus on Wednesday, bringing the state total to 8,081.
Authorities also confirmed another 261 cases of the virus, including 104 probable cases. There are now at least 109,143 cases of the virus in Massachusetts.
Today’s figures follow a day when it saw no new deaths from coronavirus, as health officials worked to eliminate duplicate reports of deaths and “clean up” COVID-19 data. It was the first day that authorities reported that there have been no new deaths since the outbreak began.
“As we all know, too many families have lost loved ones and too many friends have lost loved ones to this virus over the past few months,” Governor Charlie Baker said Wednesday.
Baker said that only one hospital in Massachusetts is using surge capacity to care for patients with coronavirus. Approximately 773 people are still hospitalized with the virus. Hospitalizations have decreased approximately 89% since mid-April, Baker said.
A study by researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology stated that confirmed coronavirus patients and deaths from the virus through June 18 were 11.8 and 1.48 times higher, respectively, than was officially reported.
And cases in the United States, particularly in Florida, Texas, and Arizona, have skyrocketed. Dr. Anthony Fauci said Tuesday that the country could see up to 100,000 new cases each day if Americans don’t adhere to public health guidelines amid the increase.
Infection rates in the northeastern states have decreased, including in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New Jersey, and New York.
But most Massachusetts residents are still wary of participating in many pre-pandemic activities, such as eating at restaurants and going to sporting events, according to the Suffolk University survey of WGBH News, MassLive, The Boston Globe, and State House News Service.
Concerns arise when Massachusetts is expected to enter the third phase of Baker’s four-part reopening plan starting next week, which includes the reopening, among other things, of museums, gyms, and indoor recreation centers.
These are the cases listed by county:
Barnstable County: 1,542
Berkshire County: 597
Bristol County: 8,236
Dukes County: 50
Essex County: 16,122
Franklin County: 370
Hampden County: 6,791
Hampshire County: 965
Middlesex County: 23,998
Nantucket County: 17
Norfolk County: 9,184
Plymouth County: 8,696
Suffolk County: 19,853
Worcester County: 12,376
Unknown location: 346
Related content:
