MA Reports 1,436 New Coronavirus Cases, 38 More Deaths

FRAMINGHAM, MA — The number of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts hit 10,402 Friday, with total deaths now at 192, state health officials reported.

Compared to Thursday, the total coronavirus case count increased by 1,436 and deaths rose by 38. The number of people tested rose to 62,962, with 6,354 new tests over the last 24 hours. Massachusetts now has more cases than Washington, which was the first state to experience a major coronavirus outbreak.

All the 38 new deaths reported Friday were people over the age of 50. Two people in their 30s from Suffolk County died this week, but many more deaths have occurred at local senior living facilities.

Three people have died at a facility in Worcester, and another 13 residents have been diagnosed with coronavirus. Meanwhile, 15 have died at a Norwood senior living facility recently. Twenty-one residents at the Soldiers' Home in Holyoke have died, and two more have died at the Soldiers' Home in Chelsea.

There are now 382 residents of senior living homes who have tested positive for the coronavirus across 82 facilities in Massachusetts, state officials reported on Friday.

Massachusetts launched a new contact-tracing program on Friday, which Gov. Charlie Baker said was the first such program in the nation. About 1,000 people will help track down "close contacts" of people who have been diagnosed with coronavirus to stop further spread.

The state's next coronavirus case update will happen Saturday afternoon.

More coronavirus news from Friday:

15 Reported Dead In Norwood Nursing Home

The 15 deaths happened in the last 12 days in the Charlwell House Health and Rehabilitation Center in Norwood.

Coronavirus: 8 Middlesex Jail Employees Test Positive

Seven employees working inside the jail and one employee working in an outside location tested positive for the new coronavirus.

Massachusetts's Poorest Towns Among Hardest Hit By Coronavirus

The state's poorest city also has one of the highest rates of coronavirus infections, while its wealthy neighbor is faring better.

MA Sees 'Surge' Of Medical Cannabis Applications Amid Coronavirus

Massachusetts cannabis regulators are trying to find ways to help the retail sector, which is shut down due to coronavirus.