Key MA Coronavirus Progress Measures Fall To New Lows

BOSTON —For a fourth day in a row, the four major public health indicators the state is watching as it gradually reopens the economy all trended in the right direction in Monday's coronavirus update.

Despite the progress, there were 596 newly confirmed cases and 44 more deaths, bringing the overall totals to 93, 271 cases and 6,416 fatalities.

The seven-day weighted average of positive test rate, three-day average of number of COVID-19 patients in the hospital, the number of hospitals using surge capacity and the three-day average of COVID-19 deaths all declined.

State officials say those metrics, along with other factors, are key to continuing to reopen the economy.

Three of the four measures have fallen by over 50 percent since April 15, while the three-day average of COVID-19 patients in hospitals has fallen by 39 percent. That measure fell by 55, from 2,243 to 2,179.

The number of hospitals using surge capacity fell by one, to just eight. Twenty-three Massachusetts hospitals were at surge capacity on May 1. The three-day average of coronavirus deaths fell from 71 to 67, and the seven-day weighted average of positive test rate fell from 9.0 to 8.9 percent.

Ahead of Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Charlie Baker warned people not to lose focus on preventing the virus's spread, imploring residents to keep social distancing and wearing face masks over the long weekend. Baker said people have worked too hard to lose out on the gains.

"Don't let a few nice days step on that," he said.

View the full report online.

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