Tewksbury High Risk Again, Hospital Reports 39 Coronavirus Cases

TEWKSBURY, MA — Tewksbury was designated high risk for the coronavirus Thursday in the latest state town-by-town release. The town added over 200 cases over the last two weeks.

State officials also reported that the Tewksbury State Hospital has at least 39 active cases: 11 patients and 28 staff. There has been one death in the last week.

"At the start of the public health emergency, an Incident Command Center was established to prepare the hospital for COVID-19," a Department of Public Health spokesperson said regarding the recent cases. "Through ongoing surveillance testing, which will continue until there is a safe and effective vaccine available, Tewksbury Hospital can quickly identify positive staff and patient cases, and per infection control protocol all positive patients are immediately isolated, and staff are directed to quarantine at home."

The town added 214 cases and reported a 5.22 percent positive rate over the last two weeks, according to the state data released Thursday. Crossing the 5 percent threshold put it in the high-risk category.

That brings the town to 1,131 confirmed cases, by the state count.

Along with the latest town-by-town numbers, the state reported 6,477 new cases Thursday, the most on record. The state reported 5,192 Friday, still the second-highest on record.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.