169 new coronavirus deaths in Massachusetts, nearly 1,600 new cases in state

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health confirmed 169 new COVID-19-related deaths across the state Sunday, bringing the state’s total to 2,899.The total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases rose to 54,938 after 1,590 new cases were reported by state health officials on April 26.The state reported 9,255 new test results on Sunday, bringing the total patients tested in Massachusetts to 236,100 people. State health officials said 3,879 COVID-19 patients are currently hospitalized, which accounts for about 7% of the total number of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts.Of the 3,879 patients currently hospitalized, the DPH said 1,077 of them are currently in an intensive care unit as of Sunday.The DPH said 10,031 of the COVID-19 cases have been reported statewide at 303 different long-term care facilities, including 1,632 deaths. The cases include residents, patients and health care workers at the facilities.About 56% of the deaths reported statewide occurred at long-term care facilities as of Sunday, according to state health officials. County breakdown of cases:Barnstable County: 772Berkshire County: 428Bristol County: 2,923Dukes County: 15Essex County: 7,489Franklin County: 226Hampden County: 3,295Hampshire County: 427Middlesex County: 12,648Nantucket County: 10Norfolk County: 5,288Plymouth County: 4,495Suffolk County: 11,543Worcester County: 4,572The county of residence of 807 Massachusetts patients is unknown.The DPH also released updated data on the number of coronavirus cases in each city and town throughout the state on April 22.The data, which is updated weekly, includes the number of reported COVID-19 cases in each community and the rate of cases per 100,000 people, a number designed to provide a comparison between cities and towns, regardless of population size.Massachusetts communities with less than five COVID-19 cases and a population of under 50,000 are reported as such or repressed for confidentiality purposes, according to state health officials.Click here to see a graphical look at the data.LIST: Town-by-town breakdown released by stateThe new reporting of racial and ethnic data that began last week remains incomplete, with the information either unknown or missing for about 56% of the confirmed COVID-19 cases and roughly 52% of deaths from coronavirus. Public officials, however, remain concerned that communities of color are being disproportionately impacted by the spread of the virus.The DPH reported on April 22 that 9,472 Massachusetts residents were in active quarantine and were being monitored as of 5 p.m. Tuesday.The total number of people who have completed quarantine is 13,480. The total number of Massachusetts residents that have been subject to quarantine since the beginning of the COVID-19 outbreak is 22,952.Schools have been closed for the rest of the academic year. A statewide stay-at-home advisory and mandatory closure of nonessential businesses is in effect in Massachusetts through May 4. It instructs all residents except for employees of essential businesses to stay home, with an exception for outdoor exercise and trips to get needed items such as groceries or medicine.President Donald Trump extended federal social distancing guidelines until the end of April.Gov. Charlie Baker has urged Massachusetts residents to respect the guidance and “play their part,” in order to protect public health and help officials limit the surge in cases.The governor called distancing “our single greatest weapon” against the virus.PHNjcmlwdCBpZD0iaW5mb2dyYW1fMF85MTUyMTg3My03NmRhLTQ0ZmUtOTA0Ny1mMTllZWFlZGFjNmQiIHRpdGxlPSJDb3JvbmF2aXJ1cyBpbiBNYXNzYWNodXNldHRzIiBzcmM9Imh0dHBzOi8vZS5pbmZvZ3JhbS5jb20vanMvZGlzdC9lbWJlZC5qcz9yeXoiIHR5cGU9InRleHQvamF2YXNjcmlwdCI+PC9zY3JpcHQ+.