32 Massachusetts cities and towns at high risk for coronavirus transmission as red zone doubles over two weeks

The number of Massachusetts cities and towns at high risk for COVID-19 transmission has more than doubled in the past two weeks, rising to 32 this week from a low of 14 as officials sound alarms about local outbreaks.

See the city and town stats.

“The commonwealth has had a 26% increase in cases over the past two weeks,” Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said in a Thursday news conference.

“We are already seeing a little surge,” Hirsh added, warning that the return of spring breakers from states where variants are more prevalent, and the upcoming holidays of Passover and Easter, could be “a setup for even a bigger surge.”

The number of high-risk communities had tumbled to just 14 after peaking at 229 in January at the height of the post-holiday surge.

The red-zone grew to 20 municipalities last week. On Thursday, three weeks after Gov. Charlie Baker returned the state to Phase 3, Step 2 of reopening — and days after the state moved into Phase 4, Step 1 — the Department of Public Health released new data showing the high-risk list was up to 32.

Baker said in a Thursday press conference that cases are rising among the under-30 crowd.

“While these residents are far less likely to be hospitalized, it remains critically important for all residents, particularly young people, to continue to practice prevention strategies and not let down their guard,” the governor said.

The high-risk list this week includes Barnstable, Bellingham, Blackstone, Brewster, Chicopee, Dennis, Fall River, Freetown, Hanson, Harwich, Haverhill, Lancaster, Lawrence, Lee, Lowell, Lynn, Mashpee, Methuen, Millis, Monson, New Bedford, North Attleboro, Palmer, Pembroke, Plainville, Plymouth, Sandwich, Southwick, Sutton, Templeton, West Bridgewater and Yarmouth.

“We are extremely concerned about the outbreak that is occurring in the mid-Cape area, most notably in Barnstable and Yarmouth,” state Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro, said on a call with reporters. “It’s very incumbent for all of us on Cape Cod to get this outbreak under control — and fast.”

With the Cape’s busy summer season rapidly approaching — despite the pandemic, 4.1 million people visited the Cape Cod National Seashore last year — Cyr said “we need to be vigilant.”

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3w0gIDH