BOSTON (CBS) – The number of Massachusetts communities considered at high risk for coronavirus infection has risen for the fourth consecutive week. As of Thursday, the number of cities and towns in the high-risk red category is 77, up from 55 last week.
TO CHECK: Coronavirus data city by city
State health officials classify cities as red, green, yellow, or gray based on the daily rate of COVID-19 cases.
COVID cases by city on 8/04/21 (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 this week’s map shows clear clusters of infection, which worries epidemiologists.
“We have to monitor these clusters very closely. These red areas worry me, ”said Dr. Mark Siedner, an infectious disease specialist at Massachusetts General Hospital.
So far, five million shots have landed in Massachusetts and 1.6 million people are completely vaccinated.
“My concern is that hospitalizations have increased by 20% in the last two weeks. That shouldn’t happen if high-risk people are really protected, ”Dr. Siedner said.
Although cases and hospitalizations are increasing, mortality rates have remained the same. Dr. Siedner says that in a couple more weeks we will know if there is cause for concern.
“I think you see the medical and epidemiological community holding their breath by asking the question: have we opened up too fast? Or is vaccination catching up as quickly as we need it? And time will tell, ”Dr. Siedner said.
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 on Thursday reported 1,938 new confirmed cases of COVID and eight additional deaths in the state.