BOSTON (CBS) – The number of Massachusetts communities considered at high risk for coronavirus infections has increased for the fourth straight week. As of Thursday, the number of cities and towns in the high-risk red category will be 77, up from 55 last week.
TO CHECK: Town By Town Coronavirus Data
State health officials categorize cities and towns as red, green, yellow or gray based on the daily rate of COVID-19 cases.
COVID Cases by City 4/8/21 (Image credit Mass. DPH)
As of Thursday, the following communities are considered high risk:
Abington, Adams, Athol, Ayer, Barnstable, Billerica, Blackstone, Brewster, Brockton, Carver, Chatham, Chelmsford, Chicopee, Dennis, Dighton, Dracut, East Longmeadow, Edgartown, Everett, Fall River, Framingham, Freetown, Granby, Halifax, Hamilton, Hampden, Hanson, Holyoke, Hopedale, Hull, Lakeville, Lawrence, Littleton, Lowell, Ludlow, Lynn, Mansfield, Mashpee, Methuen, Middleboro, Milford, Monson, Nantucket, New Bedford, Oak Bluffs, Orange, Palmer, Paxton, Peabody, Plainville, Plymouth, Raynham, Rehoboth, Revere, Sandwich, Saugus, Seekonk, Somerset, Southampton, Southboro, Springfield, Sutton, Swansea, Taunton, Tisbury, Tyngsboro, Ware, Wareham, Wenham, West Boylston, West Bridgewater, West Springfield , Westport, Whitman, Williamstown, Winchendon, Yarmouth.
The red zone on this week’s map shows clear infection clusters, which is of concern to epidemiologists.
“We have to keep a close eye on those clusters. I’m really concerned about those red areas, ”said Dr. Mark Siedner, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
To date, five million shots have been landed in Massachusetts and 1.6 million people have been fully vaccinated.
“I am concerned that the number of hospital admissions has increased by 20% in the past two weeks. That shouldn’t happen if people at high risk are really protected, ”said Dr. Siedner.
Although the number of cases and hospital admissions is on the rise, the death rates have remained the same. Dr. Siedner says we will know within a few weeks if there is cause for concern.
“I think you see the medical and epidemiological community holding its breath and asking the question, Did we open up too quickly? Or does vaccination catch up as soon as necessary? And time will tell, ‘said Dr. Siedner.
Dr. Siedner said that as the state reopens the economy, people should remember to limit their social interaction and keep wearing masks.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 1,938 new confirmed COVID cases and eight additional deaths in the state on Thursday.