Reading's Latest Coronavirus Figures

READING, MA — A quarter of Massachusetts communities, including Reading, had increasing coronavirus 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 86 — or 25 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 139, or 40 percent, communities and held steady in the remaining 126.

Reading's case count over the last 14 days was nine, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 317. The town has conducted 1,184 tests over the past two weeks, 10 of which came back positive. There have been 7,045 tests conducted overall in Reading.

The town's percent positive rate rose to 0.84 percent from 0.37 percent last week. 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.