Reading's Latest Coronavirus Figures: Town Remains 'Green'

READING, MA — More Massachusetts communities reported rising positive coronavirus test rates over the last two weeks than falling rates, according to new town-by-town data released by the state Wednesday. Reading was among the 103 communities where the rate dropped, in addition to seeing a lower case count over last week.

The latest town-by-town data showed the positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 105 — 29.9 percent — of the 351 communities in the state and held steady in 143 communities.

Reading's case count over the last 14 days fell to eight, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 326. The town has conducted 1,533 tests over the past two weeks, 11 of which came back positive. There have been 8,656 tests conducted overall in Reading.

The town's percent positive rate over the last two weeks fell to 0.72 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.