NORTHAMPTON — The number of COVID-19-related deaths in Massachusetts surged by 252 on Wednesday, the state’s single highest daily death total since the start of the pandemic.

The Department of Public Health reported 1,963 new cases of confirmed COVID-19 infections on Wednesday. There are now 60,265 confirmed cases statewide and 3,405 deaths. More than half of all deaths — 1,982 — have occurred at long-term care facilities.

The state also released its weekly report on cumulative cases of the coronavirus for each city and town on Wednesday.

In the Gazette’s coverage area, Holyoke had the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 cases at 596. Northampton had 167, 48 more than last week, while the number of cases reported in Amherst jumped by 72 to 83. Belchertown had 62 reported cases, South Hadley 51, Easthampton 50, Hadley 27, Southampton 25, Granby 18, and Ware 15.

All other Hampshire County communities had fewer than 10 cases. 

The state has now reported 531 confirmed cases and 26 deaths in Hampshire County, 252 cases and 35 deaths in Franklin County and 3,698 cases and 358 deaths in Hampden County.

The state has carried out 265,618 tests, 11,118 of which were new on Wednesday.

Overall, 6% of current cases in Massachusetts require hospitalization, and 1,011 people with the virus are in intensive care units.

Area hospitals

Cooley Dickinson Hospital is treating 10 inpatients with confirmed COVID-19 infection as of Wednesday, three of whom are in the intensive care unit.

An additional 198 outpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection. The hospital has had 415 people test positive overall.

Baystate Health is treating 110 inpatients for confirmed COVID-19 infection across all of its hospitals, including 14 patients in critical care units. Of those hospitalized, 103 are at Baystate Medical Center in Springfield.

Nine inpatients are under investigation for COVID-19 infection.

Baystate has tested 5,986 people to date, with 1,085 results coming back positive, 4,782 negative, and 119 pending results.

Jacquelyn Voghel can be reached at jvoghel@gazettenet.com.