Arlington's Coronavirus Rate Rises; Uptick In Cases

ARLINGTON, MA — About a third of Massachusetts communities, including Arlington, had their positive coronavirus test rates increase over the last two weeks, according to new town-by-town data released by the state Wednesday.

The latest town-by-town data showed the positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 100— or 28 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 118, or 34 percent, communities and held steady in the remaining 133.

Arlington's case count over the last 14 days rose to 10, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 337. The town has conducted 2,601 tests over the past two weeks, 13 of which came back positive. There have been 13,725 tests conducted overall in Arlington.

The town's percent positive rate over the last two weeks rose to 0.50 percent. Health officials say positive test results need to stay below 5 percent for two weeks or longer and, preferably, be closer to 2 percent, for states to safely ease restrictions.

The state labeled Arlington a "green" community for the first time. The designation is given to cities and towns that average fewer than four cases per 100,000 people daily. The town was previously a "gray" community, meaning it averaged fewer than five cases overall.

View the state's interactive COVID-19 map.