BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health has released it's latest report on the state of Covid-19 in the Commonwealth.
The state reported 2,602 newly confirmed cases of the virus on Thursday, bringing the current number of total active cases to 61,864. The new cases were reported out of 81,286 newly administered tests.
Since the pandemic began, Massachusetts has reported over half a million total cases of Covid-19, at 507,166.
The DPH also reported 74 additional deaths from the virus on Thursday, bringing the Massachusetts total death toll up to 14,489.
Massachusetts also currently has 1,554 patients hospitalized with Covid-19, including 335 people in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU).
The states 7-day average positivity rate now stands at 3.29 percent.
As for community-based reporting, around 40 fewer cities and towns were listed on the state's "red zone" category on Thursday. The red zone signifies a community that is at the highest risk of transmission for Covid-19.
Thursday's weekly report of 153 communities, compared to last week's total of 192, marks the third week in a row where the number of red zone cities and towns has declined.
Four newly added red zone communities include Charlton, Lynnfield, Mendon and Westwood.
Across the nation, Johns Hopkins University reports that as of Thursday evening, the U.S. has recorded 26,654,872 cases of Covid-19, and more than 445 thousand Americans have died from the virus.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio:Facebook|Twitter|Instagram|iHeartmedia App
Written by Rachel Armany
Photo: Getty Images