Latest Coronavirus Cases In Reading

READING, MA — Three-quarters of Massachusetts communities, including Reading, had falling or steady positive test rates over the last two weeks, and the seven-day average statewide positive rate fell to its lowest level yet at 1.5 percent, according to updated town-by-town coronavirus data released Wednesday by the state Department of Public Health.

Ninety-two of the state's communities had more coronavirus cases than last week.

Reading's case count over the last 14 days was less than five, lowering its percent positive rate to 0.43 percent from 0.71 percent last week.

That's well below the recommended percentage an area should mark before easing restrictions. Health officials have said 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.

Reading's case count since the start of the pandemic is 309. The town has conducted 929 tests over the past two weeks, four of which came back positive. There have been 5,793 tests conducted overall in Reading.

Just four towns had positive test rates at or above 5 percent over the last two weeks: Hancock, Lynn, Revere and Russell. Forty-nine communities had positive rates between 2 and 5 percent.