Massachusetts set a daily COVID-19 case record Thursday, reporting to 6,887, according to the state’s Department of Health.
The previous one-day record was December 3, although that day’s report included nearly 700 overdue cases. There were 7,424 cases reported on December 26, but that included two days of cases, as the Ministry of Health did not report them on Christmas Day.
According to health officials, 359,445 cases have now been confirmed in Massachusetts, with the 81 deaths on Thursday bringing the number to 12,157. Another 266 deaths are considered likely to be related to COVID-19.
The percentage of coronavirus tests that return positive on average has risen to 8.6%, according to the report.
The number of patients hospitalized for COVID-19 has risen to 2,271. Of that number, 417 were reported to be in intensive care units and 240 have been intubated, DPH said.
Gov. Charlie Baker said on Wednesday that about 78,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine have been administered statewide as of Tuesday, and an estimated 20,000 people living and working in long-term care facilities by the end of this week.
“Progress in this regard clearly shows that while it is lumpy and bumpy, what we said it would be, it is moving forward and speaks well to what lies ahead with regard to 2021,” he said.
Baker also asked people to avoid New Year’s Eve parties.