Massachusetts reports 2 new coronavirus deaths, 338 cases; Global deaths top 700K - MassLive.com

Massachusetts health officials announced two more coronavirus deaths on Wednesday, bringing the statewide death toll to 8,438.

There were also another 102 probable cases of coronavirus reported on Wednesday, for a total of at least 8,272.

On Tuesday, health officials reported 438 new cases of the virus — the largest increase in several months.

Massachusetts has been seeing an uptick in infections, which state officials have said could tied to “small clusters” caused by parties and instances of people ignoring the mask mandate, or not properly social distancing.

Charlie Baker on Tuesday said officials have not ruled out stricter regulations on businesses and reduced gathering sizes amid the increase in cases.

He admitted that there has been “some slippage” in compliance with the public health guidance, and that officials are investigating the origins and causes of the clusters of infections.

Hospital officials on Monday said least 55 people have tested positive.

Baystate Health has since strengthened its rules for mask-wearing and distancing and reconfigured some indoor spaces after hospital officials traced a cluster of new cases there to a single employee who had been to a COVID-19 hotspot state.

Ten Falmouth lifeguards have also tested positive for the coronavirus after several of them had attended a recent party, Town Manager Julian Suso said on Monday.