NORTHAMPTON — The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 669 new cases of confirmed COVID-19 infections on Friday and 129 new deaths. There are now 78,462 confirmed cases statewide and 5,108 deaths.
The number of confirmed new cases represents the first time that this figure has dropped below 1,000 since April 5. The state also carried out a lower number of tests than recently reported, with 6,339 conducted. By comparison, more than 10,000 people were tested each day from Thursday through Sunday.
But, when only 6,290 tests were conducted last Wednesday, 1,754 tested positive. The state has now carried out 394,728 tests overall.
Overall, 4% of current cases in Massachusetts require hospitalization, and 813 people with the virus are in intensive care units.
The number of confirmed cases in western Massachusetts did not reflect the same single-day drop recorded in statewide cases, overall keeping with recent trends.
The state has reported 688 confirmed cases and 57 deaths in Hampshire County, 296 cases and 42 deaths in Franklin County and 4,763 cases and 458 deaths in Hampden County.
Among confirmed cases, the average age of death is 82, the average age of hospitalization is 68, and the average age of those infected is 53.
At the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home, a total of 88 veteran residents have died over the course of the pandemic, 74 of whom tested positive for COVID-19. Thirteen tested negative, and one result was unknown.
Overall, 77 veteran residents and 83 employees have tested positive.
Cooley Dickinson Hospital was treating 11 inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 infection as of Friday, two of whom are in the intensive care unit.
An additional 36 outpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection. The hospital has had 597 people test positive overall.
Baystate Health is treating 97 inpatients for confirmed COVID-19 infection across all of its hospitals, including 18 patients in critical care units. Ninety are hospitalized at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Twenty-six inpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection.
Baystate has tested 8,823 people to date, with 1,392 results coming back positive, 7,377 negative, and 54 pending results.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.