Reading's Coronavirus Rate Remains Steady; Uptick In Cases

READING, MA — More than two-thirds of Massachusetts communities, including Reading, had falling or steady positive coronavirus test rates 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.

Reading's case count over the last 14 days rose to 11, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 323. The city has conducted 1,371 tests over the past two weeks, 14 of which came back positive. There have been 7,846 tests conducted overall in Reading.

The town's percent positive rate over the last two weeks remained roughly the same at 1.02 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 Reading 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.