Arlington's Latest Coronavirus Figures: Town Remains 'Green'

ARLINGTON, MA — More Massachusetts communities reported rising positive coronavirus test rates over the last two weeks than falling rates, according to new town-by-town data released by the state Wednesday. Arlington was among the 143 communities where the rate held steady, even though it reported a higher case count over last week.

The latest town-by-town data showed the positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 105 — 29.9 percent — of the 351 communities in the state and fell in 103 communities, or 29.3 percent.

Arlington's case count over the last 14 days rose to 15, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 348. The town has conducted 2,843 tests over the past two weeks, 17 of which came back positive. There have been 15,279 tests conducted overall in Arlington.

The town's percent positive rate over the last two weeks remained roughly the same at 0.60 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, a designation given to cities and towns that average fewer than four cases per 100,000 people daily.

View the state's interactive COVID-19 map.