According to state statistics, the number of cities and towns at high risk for coronavirus has more than doubled in the last two weeks, rising to 117 this week and eight weeks last week, according to state statistics.
See city and town statistics.
Since the state’s public health department began reporting weekly data using a color-coded risk assessment system in August Gust, 17 communities represent the highest number of cities and towns in the hot zone that keep high-risk communities red.
Chelsea, Dedham, Everett, Framingham, Lawrence, Lynn, Linfield, Monson, New Bedford, Rever and Winthrop have been on the high-risk list for the second week in a row, according to figures released on Wednesday.
Sogus returned to the list, joining Nantucket, Plainville, Tingsborough, Worcester and Warrantham, while Chatham and Matthew took off. During the two-week period ending Saturday in communities in the Red Zone, an average of eight or more Covid-19 cases per day were reported per 100,000 inhabitants.
Nanticate officials wrote in a statement Friday that there has been an “increase in September,” including a community outbreak of the virus.
“We have responded to our mission to curb the spread of COVID,” Select Board Chairman Don Hill Holdgate wrote, advising residents on best practices to stay safe on the island. “The current increase is proof that ‘some’ concessions are also risky.”
Deadham continues with state-sponsored coronavirus testing on Thursday after an increase in cases with clusters from two recent gatherings of young people.
“We urge as many people as possible to test,” Deadham Town manager Leon Goodwin said in a statement.
The number of communities at moderate risk – which is four to eight cases per 100,000 inhabitants – was 36 this week. About 80 cities and towns were listed as low-risk, with less than four cases.
Public health officials on Wednesday reported 295 new coronavirus cases and 20 more deaths as the average positive test rate remained at a state-record low of 0.8%.
20 new deaths bring the state-confirmed COVID-19 figure to 9,036.
295 new cases bring the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 123,720. Another 11 probable cases were reported on Wednesday for a total of 125,699 cases of joint confirmation and probable cause. More than 109,000 people have now recovered.
Also in the state, for the first time this week, a joint test was reported in colleges and universities, stating that 499 accumulated cases have been confirmed in schools testing on campus. Of those, 168 have been reported since last week.
Overall, colleges and universities have conducted 518,904 tests for the novel virus and 532 have returned positive. Of those, about 153,675 tests were taken last week alone.
