BOSTON (CBS) – The number of communities in Massachusetts considered at high risk for coronavirus infections has risen for the fourth week in a row. As of Thursday, the number of high-risk red cities is 77, up from 55 last week.
CHECK IT OUT: Date Coronavirus Town By Town
State health officials classify cities and towns as red, green, yellow, or gray based on the daily COVID-19 case rate.
COVID cases by city 08/04/21 (Image credit Mass. DPH)
As of Thursday, the following communities are considered high risk:
Abington, Adams, Athol, Yesterday, 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 area on the map of the week shows clear clusters of infection, as far as epidemiologists are concerned.
“We have to look very closely at those clusters. I’m worried about these red areas, “said Dr. Mark Siedner, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
To date, five million shots have landed in Massachusetts and 1.6 million people are completely vaccinated.
“I am worried that hospitalizations have increased by 20% in the last two weeks. This should not happen if high-risk people are really protected, ”said Dr. Siedner.
While cases and hospitalizations are on the rise, death rates have remained the same. Dr. Siedner says we will know in a few weeks if there are any concerns.
“I think you see the medical and epidemiological community holding their breath by asking the question – did we open up too quickly? Or is vaccination getting faster and faster? 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 continue to wear masks.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported 1,938 new confirmed cases of COVID and eight additional deaths in the state on Thursday.