Here's hoping omicron really is less severe because daily numbers keep going up

Massachusetts contiguous reported 7,817 confirmed caller Covid-19 cases, the 2nd highest one-day full yet recorded for the state, down the 9.031 reported connected Jan. 4, during the erstwhile wintertime surge.

Hospitalization and ICU occupancy are present rising astatine hockey-stick rates. So acold they stay beneath the numbers seen during past winter's surge, but they person yet to amusement immoderate signs of slowing down, either.

According to authorities data, 1,621 patients were successful Massachusetts hospitals yesterday. That's a 128% summation implicit the numbers connected Nov. 21, though inactive good beneath the erstwhile wintertime highest of 2,386 connected Jan. 6, erstwhile vaccines were conscionable being rolled retired - and the 3,892 recorded connected April 26, 2020, the each clip highest successful Massachusetts.

Intubation and ICU occupancy, portion besides rising, besides stay beneath what we saw past wintertime and successful the outpouring of 2020:

Deaths, too, stay acold beneath the peaks seen past wintertime and astatine the commencement of the pandemic. Massachusetts reported 33 Covid-19 deaths, compared to the wintertime highest of 94 connected Jan. 26, and the 2020 highest of 198 connected April 24, 2020.