Sixty-two Massachusetts communities are at the highest risk for the coronavirus, up from 30 last week as the commonwealth continues to face a surge in positive cases.
When the state Department of Public Health adjusted its calculations for how it determines which cities and towns are placed in the “red zone” designation earlier this month, many communities dropped off the list. But the number seems to only be growing again.
Two areas now have average daily case rates in triple digits: Norfolk and Lawrence.
In Norfolk, which recorded a daily incident rate of 116.6 per 100,000 residents this week, the virus uptick has been in part driven by an outbreak at MCI-Norfolk, which logged 33 active cases as of Thursday, WBUR reports. Earlier this month, the prison recorded nearly 200 ongoing cases at one point.
State lawmakers met with the Department of Correction Wednesday to discuss how the prison system can better manage the health crisis in its facilities, including through expanded testing and releasing prisoners to home confinement, according to the news station.
The latest statewide, community-centered health metrics are also the final weekly report before Thanksgiving.
Local and state officials have increasingly urged residents not to travel on the holiday and keep any gatherings small, though Gov. Charlie Baker said Wednesday he’s concerned that with long lines at some of the state’s testing sites, some may not be planning to follow that guidance next week.
“If we treat this year just like we treat every other Thanksgiving, it’s quite likely that it will trigger a significant spread,” Baker said. “And we know that that leads to serious illness for many and, in rare cases, death — especially among our senior citizens.”
Here’s a look at each of the highest-risk communities in Massachusetts:
1. Norfolk
Average daily incidence rate: 116.6 per 100,000
2. Lawrence
Average daily incidence rate: 108.1 per 100,000
3. Fall River
Average daily incidence rate: 86.2 per 100,000
4. Tisbury
Average daily incidence rate: 83.9 per 100,000
5. Marion
Average daily incidence rate: 77.7 per 100,000
6. Shirley
Average daily incidence rate: 71.2 per 100,000
7. Chelsea
Average daily incidence rate: 69.3 per 100,000
8. Swansea
Average daily incidence rate: 65.8 per 100,000
9. Everett
Average daily incidence rate: 65.2 per 100,000
10. Lowell
Average daily incidence rate: 64.2 per 100,000
11. Leominster
Average daily incidence rate: 63.3 per 100,000
12. Lynn
Average daily incidence rate: 61.6 per 100,000
13. Somerset
Average daily incidence rate: 58.6 per 100,000
14. Revere
Average daily incidence rate: 56.8 per 100,000
15. Fitchburg
Average daily incidence rate: 55.8 per 100,000
16. Edgartown
Average daily incidence rate: 54.2 per 100,000
17. Holyoke
Average daily incidence rate: 53.4 per 100,000
18. Methuen
Average daily incidence rate: 51.3 per 100,000
19. Springfield
Average daily incidence rate: 51.1 per 100,000
20. Nantucket
Average daily incidence rate: 47.6 per 100,000
21. Lunenburg
Average daily incidence rate: 46.6 per 100,000
22. Westport
Average daily incidence rate: 46 per 100,000
23. Fairhaven
Average daily incidence rate: 45.1 per 100,000
24. Saugus
Average daily incidence rate: 44.1 per 100,000
25. Dartmouth
Average daily incidence rate: 43.1 per 100,000
26. Dighton
Average daily incidence rate: 42.3 per 100,000
27. Woburn
Average daily incidence rate: 40.9 per 100,000
28. Hampden
Average daily incidence rate: 40.8 per 100,000
29. West Springfield
Average daily incidence rate: 40.2 per 100,000
30. Clinton
Average daily incidence rate: 40.1 per 100,000
31. Northbridge
Average daily incidence rate: 40 per 100,000
31. Sterling (tie)
Average daily incidence rate: 40 per 100,000
32. Chicopee
Average daily incidence rate: 39.2 per 100,000
32. New Bedford (tie)
Average daily incidence rate: 39.2 per 100,000
33. Milford
Average daily incidence rate: 38.2 per 100,000
34. Peabody
Average daily incidence rate: 36.9 per 100,000
35. Freetown
Average daily incidence rate: 36.3 per 100,000
36. Attleboro
Average daily incidence rate: 35.3 per 100,000
37. Southbridge
Average daily incidence rate: 34.9 per 100,000
38. Uxbridge
Average daily incidence rate: 34.8 per 100,000
39. Malden
Average daily incidence rate: 34.6 per 100,000
40. Framingham
Average daily incidence rate: 34.2 per 100,000
40. Seekonk (tie)
Average daily incidence rate: 34.2 per 100,000
41. Ludlow
Average daily incidence rate: 34.1 per 100,000
42. Tyngsborough
Average daily incidence rate: 32.8 per 100,000
43. Brockton
Average daily incidence rate: 32.7 per 100,000
44. Southwick
Average daily incidence rate: 32.1 per 100,000
45. Douglas
Average daily incidence rate: 31.6 per 100,000
46. Dracut
Average daily incidence rate: 31.1 per 100,000
47. Acushnet
Average daily incidence rate: 30.8 per 100,000
48. Townsend
Average daily incidence rate: 29 per 100,000
49. Rehoboth
Average daily incidence rate: 28.1 per 100,000
50. Winchendon
Average daily incidence rate: 27.9 per 100,000
51. Lancaster
Average daily incidence rate: 27.4 per 100,000
52. Sutton
Average daily incidence rate: 26.3 per 100,000
53. Blackstone
Average daily incidence rate: 25.3 per 100,000
54. Abington
Average daily incidence rate: 23.9 per 100,000
55. Taunton
Average daily incidence rate: 23.7 per 100,000
56. Barnstable
Average daily incidence rate: 23.1 per 100,000
57. Salisbury
Average daily incidence rate: 22.6 per 100,000
58. Rockland
Average daily incidence rate: 20.9 per 100,000
59. Templeton
Average daily incidence rate: 20.6 per 100,000
Here is the full data for each community in Massachusetts:
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