BOSTON (AP) — The Massachusetts death toll in the coronavirus pandemic has surged past 2,000, about doubling in just seven days as the state becomes a hot spot.
Public health officials said Wednesday that there were 221 new deaths, pushing the overall toll to 2,182. It was the most deaths reported in a single day since the outbreak in Massachusetts began, and the first time the state has recorded more than 200 in a day. Massachusetts saw its first COVID-19 death on March 20.
The outbreak has intensified despite strict social distancing measures and contact tracing aimed at slowing transmission.