BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Department of Public Health has confirmed a total of more than 60,000 cases of coronavirus and more than 3,400 COVID-related deaths since February 1.
The state remains in the surge of the COVID-19 pandemic with 1,963 new cases confirmed on Wednesday. There were also 252 additional deaths attributed to the virus, the state's largest single-day death toll related to COVID so far.
Out of a total of 3,405 COVID-deaths confirmed by the state, 1,982 have been reported in long-term care facilities. According to the DPH, the average age of coronavirus cases in 54, the average age of hospitalized patients is 69, and the average age of coronavirus-related death is 82.
The state's largest single-day spike in COVID-related deaths comes the same day as The New York Times reported that earlier coronavirus deaths tolls may have been undercounted in the Bay State. Between March 8th and April 11th, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention reported close to 9,000 "excess deaths" in seven states, including Massachusetts, that may have been related to coronavirus.
According to Gov. Baker, the Chief Medical Examiner and the coroner's office works to determine causes of death, and will address any possible undercount of deaths attributed to the virus.
"I think most people believe that COVID-19 death rates are probably undercounted, because it was here... well it was in a lot of paces, before people truly understood and appreciated what it was," said Baker. "People have gone back and started to do some work to try and figure out if there are cases where people presented with what would have been deemed as COVID-19 type symptoms and possibly were categorized in some other way.
Follow WBZ NewsRadio: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | iHeartmedia App