NORTHAMPTON — The state Department of Public Health reported 1,165 new cases of confirmed COVID-19 infections on Wednesday and 174 new deaths. There are now 80,497 confirmed cases statewide and 5,315 deaths.
The number of daily confirmed cases rose back over 1,000 after new cases fell below this figure for the first time in over a month on Monday and Tuesday.
On Tuesday, 870 new cases were reported, while 669 new cases were reported on Monday. But compared to recent weeks, the state also tested fewer people than average on those days, with under 7,000 tests conducted.
On Wednesday, 8,536 people were tested, bringing the number of tests performed overall to 410,032.
Wednesday’s daily death toll also represented a significant rise from Tuesday’s report of 33 new deaths — the lowest number of new COVID-19 deaths in over a month. However, officials also said on Tuesday that the low figure could have been affected by a later reporting deadline.
Overall, 4% of current cases in Massachusetts have required hospitalization, and 794 people with the virus are in intensive care units.
The state has reported 708 confirmed cases and 64 deaths, an increase of seven over Tuesday’s total, in Hampshire County, 302 cases and 43 deaths in Franklin County and 4,889 cases and 475 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.
Cooley Dickinson Hospital is treating nine inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 infection as of Wednesday, two of whom are in the intensive care unit.
An additional 78 outpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection. The hospital has had 614 people test positive overall.
Baystate Health is treating 91 inpatients for confirmed COVID-19 infection across all of its hospitals, including 16 patients in critical care units. Eighty-seven are hospitalized at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.
Eleven inpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection.
Baystate has tested 9,339 people to date, with 1,448 results coming back positive, 7,871 negative, and 80 pending results.
Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.