Massachusetts COVID cases drop 14%, Boston shutting down some vaccination and testing sites

COVID cases and hospitalizations continue to fall across the state, as Boston health officials announced this week that they’re scaling back the city’s vaccination and testing site operations with fewer people getting vaxxed and tested these days.

The Boston Public Health Commission said three sites will end their COVID operations on May 13: BCYF Hyde Park, Josephine Fiorentino Community Center, and Lena Park Community Development Corporation. Meanwhile, the Boston City Hall and Bruce C. Bolling sites will continue to provide vaccinations, boosters, and take-home rapid antigen testing kits.

Ahead of the scale down, BPHC is urging residents to get up-to-date on their vaccinations, and for newly eligible individuals to get their second bivalent booster before the three standing sites shut down.

“The sustained decline in our COVID-19 metrics is a testament to the protection afforded by the vaccines and boosters,” said Bisola Ojikutu, BPHC’s executive director. “Strong immunity against COVID-19 is vital for decreasing hospitalizations and severe illness.

“I encourage all individuals who are 65-years or older or who are moderately or severely immunocompromised to get the second bivalent booster as recommended,” Ojikutu added.

On Thursday, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 897 virus cases over the last week. The daily average of 128 COVID cases from the last week was a 14% decrease from the daily rate of 148 virus infections during the previous week.

The Bay State’s positive test average plateaued from last week. The seven-day positive test rate is now 2.46%, a slight tick down from 2.47% last week.

The state Department of Public Health on Thursday also reported that 172 total patients are hospitalized with COVID, which is a drop of 32 patients from this time last week. Earlier this week, Tufts Medical Center reported that it wasn’t treating any COVID patients for the first time since the start of the pandemic in March 2020.

The state reported 14 new COVID deaths over the past week, bringing the state’s total to 24,629 recorded deaths since the start of the pandemic. The daily average of deaths is now one.

State health officials recently updated how COVID deaths are counted, limiting COVID-associated deaths to those with COVID listed on the death certificate.

More than 2 million people in the state have received a booster dose since the bivalent vaccine was offered last September.