The Department of Public Health reported 304 newly confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, citing a hospital reporting error for the large spike in new cases.
In a note attached to the bottom of the report, officials wrote in part:
“A technical reporting error by a hospital group caused a delay in its laboratory test results being reported to DPH. These newly reported test results have been included in
today’s dashboard report and are reflected in today’s case totals.”
A total of 109,400 cases have been reported so far in Massachusetts and 15 new deaths elevating the confirmed virus-related death toll to 8,375 statewide.
On July 15, the Trump administration ordered hospitals to send their data to the White House instead of first being sent to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
1,742 are from Barnstable County, 648 are from Berkshire County, 9,029 are from Bristol County, 65 from Dukes County, 17,169 from Essex County, 398 from Franklin County, 7,381 from Hampden County, 1,107 from Hampshire County, 25,617 from Middlesex County, 10,160 from Norfolk County, 33 from Nantucket County, 9,058 from Plymouth County, 21,113 from Suffolk County, 13,243 from Worcester County and 335 are unknown, according to the DPH.
367 people are currently hospitalized — down 23 from the previous report. 55 are in the Intensive Care Unit.
Monday, June 1 was the first day that the government began reporting probable and confirmed cases under recommendation from the CDC. Probable cases are defined as individuals who have not been tested by the standard viral (molecular) test.
They have either had a positive antibody test and either had COVID symptoms or were likely to be exposed to a positive case or did not have an antibody test but had COVID symptoms and were known to be exposed to a positive case.
Probable cases also include individuals whose death certificate listed COVID-19 as a cause of death but who were not tested.
In addition to the new confirmed coronavirus cases reported Thursday, 110 are newly probable.
Zero probable deaths were reported.
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Symptoms of coronavirus include fever, cough, and shortness of breath, according to the CDC. Reported worldwide illnesses have ranged from mild symptoms to severe illness and death.
The virus is thought to spread mainly from person-to-person, typically between people who are in close contact with one another and via respiratory droplets produced when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
The average age of coronavirus patient is 51-years-old and the average age of death is 82.
On June 30, the state reported zero new coronavirus deaths for the first time in months.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health’s latest coronavirus quarantine update shows that about 97,595 individuals have completed their quarantine while about 3,141 remain.
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