Fall River coronavirus cases top 700; 12th resident dies

FALL RIVER – The coronavirus outbreak has claimed the life of another city resident, officials announced Friday, when the local death toll reached 12 and the number of cases shot past 700.

According to the a press release issued by Mayor Paul Coogan and Health and Human Services Director Tess Curran, a total of 711 Fall River residents have COVID-19, an increase of 26 from the day before.

A dozen coronavirus-associated deaths have now been reported in the city, according to the release.

The new numbers come as the organizers of the Fall River Day of Portugal announced that the event, originally postponed until September due to the coronavirus pandemic, has officially been cancelled. And meanwhile, a Boston 4th of July staple, fireworks and the annual performance of the Boston Pops along the Charles River, were also called off.

The Department of Public Health reported 1,612 new coronavirus cases statewide on Friday, raising the number of confirmed cases in Massachusetts to 75,333.

Another 150 deaths associated with COVID-19 were reported across the state, raising the state’s death toll to 4,702.

State health officials reported 14,391 new coronavirus tests on Friday, bringing the number of tests administered up to 366,023.

Cases in Bristol County jumped 141 on Friday up to 4,670, while the countywide death toll grew by 20 up to 252.

The Department of Public Health also reports cases at nursing homes and long term care facilities that have two or more confirmed COVID-19 positive patients. However, it does not report the precise number of infections among residents, instead classifying facilities as having fewer than 10 cases, between 10 and 30, and over 30 cases.

On Friday, Clifton Assisted Living Community in Somerset had fewer than 10 cases, Brandon Woods of Dartmouth had over 30 cases, and the Arbors at Taunton also had over 30 cases. Kimwell Nursing & Rehabilitation on New Boston Road also had more than 30 cases.

According to the DPH, four percent of all patients who have contracted COVID-19 in the state to date are currently hospitalized, and statewide 826 coronavirus patients are currently in intensive care.

Local hospitals are treating a number of coronavirus patients. As of Friday 48 people were hospitalized at Charlton Memorial Hospital with a suspected or confirmed infection, and 13 of those patients were in the ICU.

St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford was treating 81 patients with a suspected or confirmed COVID-19 infection, with 15 patients in intensive care, and Morton Hospital in Taunton had 54 coronavirus patients Friday, 8 of whom were in the ICU.