Reading Reports 185 New Cases, Falls Into High-Risk Category

READING, MA — Reading reported 185 coronavirus cases over the last two weeks, bringing it to over 700 confirmed cases, according to town-by-town data released by the state. The town fell into the high-risk category, averaging 47.7 daily cases per 100,000 residents, with a test rate of 5.21 percent.

That's up from 30.97 average daily cases and a test rate of 4.05 percent last week. There have been 770 cases in Reading since March.

More than half of Massachusetts cities and towns were designated high risk by the Massachusetts Department of Health Thursday. Positive test rates rose in 275 communities.

>>>MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: Majority Of Towns High Risk

The state reported 4,985 coronavirus cases and 44 deaths Thursday. The seven-day average of hospitalized patients was 1,761, up from 1,498 a week prior.

There were 383 patients in intensive care Thursday.

The seven-day average positive test rate was above 6 percent statewide, from below 4 percent as late as Nov. 28.

The town-by-town report labeled 187 Massachusetts communities as high risk for the virus, up from 158 last week.