Malden's Positive Coronavirus Test Rate Dropped Over 2 Weeks

MALDEN, MA — Data released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health Wednesday showed the coronavirus case count dropped in Malden over the last two weeks. The data showed the positive case count during that time increased in 90, or 25.7 percent, of the 351 Massachusetts communities, while it declined in 120 communities, or 34.3 percent.

Malden was among those 120 cities and towns, seeing 23 cases over the past 14 days. Its percent positive over that period was 2.12 percent, dropping from 3.11 percent earlier this month.

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 up social distancing restrictions. Eight towns had positive test rates at or above 5 percent and 55 had positive rates between 2 and 5 percent.

There were 1,604 tests conducted in Malden over the last two weeks, 34 of which came back positive. The city's case count since the start of the pandemic is 1,280.

Related: Latest Town-By-Town Coronavirus Cases In Massachusetts