NORTHAMPTON — More than 1,000 new COVID-19 cases and 33 more deaths caused by the disease were reported by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday.
Twelve of these new cases were in Hampshire County, which now has 81 confirmed cases overall, up from 69 on Tuesday. On Tuesday, the state reported the first death of someone from Hampshire County, a man in his 70s who had been hospitalized.
Massachusetts now has a total of 122 confirmed deaths from COVID-19.
Cooley Dickinson Hospital reported Wednesday that it has 14 COVID-19 patients admitted, five of whom are in the intensive care unit. The hospital also reported 73 people testing positive for the respiratory illness and 89 patients under investigation.
Baystate Medical Center announced 328 patients have tested positive for COVID-19, while one case is indeterminate and 112 are still pending results. The hospital has tested 1,633 individuals to date, with 1,192 tests coming back negative.
On Wednesday, Cooley Dickinson announced a new COVID-19 community call center, which will be staffed by health care workers seven days a week.
Community members can reach the center at 1-888-554-4234.
Staff can field questions such as how people can contact a primary care provider if they do not already have one; other places to seek care for non-respiratory illnesses, such as urgent care centers; and where to donate medical-grade supplies.
The call center’s hours are 8 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
The hospital also has resources posted on its website: https://www.cooleydickinson.org/home/coronavirus-resources.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.