Massachusetts reports 1,853 new COVID cases, hospitalizations jump

State health officials on Wednesday reported more than 1,800 new COVID-19 cases, while virus hospitalizations jumped across the region.

The state Department of Public Health’s report of 1,853 cases was a bit down from last Wednesday’s total of 1,969 infections. However, the number of reported tests was a 27% drop from last week.

The omicron BA.2 “stealth” variant is currently the dominant strain in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The subvariant has sparked a rise in virus cases, as more people gather indoors without masks. The Boston-area COVID wastewater data is going up.

Meanwhile, the Massachusetts average percent positivity has climbed to 4.34%, significantly up from 1.6% a few weeks ago. The positive test average for Wednesday’s count was 3.88%.

State health officials reported 24 COVID deaths, bringing the state’s total recorded death toll to 20,208. There is typically a lag in death reports following a long holiday weekend.

The daily average of COVID deaths is now four. The death rate had been much higher after omicron hospitalizations surged.

After COVID hospitalizations jumped by 45 patients, the state’s overall patient count is now 373 patients. Hospitalizations had been spiking at a rapid pace amid the omicron surge, but then plunged. Now, hospitalizations appear to be increasing again.

Of the hospitalized COVID patients statewide, 29% of patients were reported as being hospitalized due to COVID — and 71% of hospitalized patients were reported as testing positive for COVID while hospitalized for other reasons.