Middlesex County's COVID cases up 20.6%; Massachusetts cases surge 20.4%

Mike Stucka USA TODAY NETWORK
·2 min read

New cases of the coronavirus increased by another 20.4% in Massachusetts last week, with Middlesex County's increase being slightly higher.

According to a USA TODAY Network analysis of Johns Hopkins University data, there were 22,726 new instances statewide of the virus that causes COVID-19 in the week ending Sunday, up from 18,872 reported the previous week.

Seventy-one people died in Massachusetts last week of COVID-19, up from 41 the previous week.

Kites soar at the Rockport Kite Festival on Saturday, April 30, 2022. The festival returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Kites soar at the Rockport Kite Festival on Saturday, April 30, 2022. The festival returned after a two-year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Massachusetts is fourth nationally in terms of where the coronavirus is spreading fastest on a per-person basis, the data shows. Forty-three states reported more cases last week than they did the week before.

Middlesex County reported 5,360 new cases of COVID-19 last week, up 20.6% from the 4,443 it reported the week before. There were 12 coronavirus-related deaths in the county last week, up from six the week before. Throughout the pandemic, Middlesex County has reported 345,386 cases and 3,988 deaths.

>> See how your community has fared with recent coronavirus cases

Neighboring counties experienced increases that were less sharp.

Worcester County reported 2,016 new cases last week, up 8.4% from 1,860 cases reported the week before. There were 10 coronavirus-related deaths in the county last week, up from six the week before. Throughout the pandemic, Worcester County has reported 198,816 cases and 2,589 deaths.

Norfolk County reported 1,893 new cases last week, up 9.5% from 1,728 reported the week before. There were seven coronavirus-related deaths in the county last week, up from three the week before. Throughout the pandemic, Norfolk County has reported 138,588 cases and 1,897 deaths.

Nearly 1.78 million Massachusetts residents have tested positive for the coronavirus since the pandemic began, and 20,334 people have died from the disease, Johns Hopkins University data shows. Nationally, nearly 82 million people have tested positive and 997,526 people have died.

>> Track coronavirus cases across the United States

Massachusetts' COVID-19 hospital admissions rising

USA TODAY analyzed federal hospital data as of Sunday.

Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the state:

  • Last week: 1,493

  • The week before that: 1,192

  • Four weeks ago: 806

Likely COVID-19 patients admitted in the nation:

  • Last week: 45,875

  • The week before that: 42,092

  • Four weeks ago: 37,354

Hospitals in 36 states reported more COVID-19 patients last week than they did a week earlier, while hospitals in 32 states had more COVID-19 patients last week in intensive-care beds than they did the week before.

Hospitals in 35 states admitted more COVID-19 patients last week than they did a week prior, the USA TODAY analysis of U.S. Health and Human Services data shows.

This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Middlesex County reported 5,360 additional COVID-19 cases this week