Massachusetts death toll in pandemic surges past 2,000

April 22, 2020 5:35 pm

By Steve LeBlanc and Mark Pratt, Associated Press

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.