Waltham's Coronavirus Risk Level Rises To Moderate

WALTHAM, MA — After the city's coronavirus risk level rose to moderate this week, the city issued an alert imploring people to follow state guidelines Thursday.

"Please wear your mask, physical distance, and wash your hands. Follow state guidelines for gatherings, a maximum of 50 people outdoors and 25 people indoors. Your cooperation during this difficult time will help in stopping the spread of COVID19," read an alert.

It was followed up by a phone call with an automated message for those who subscribe to the alert system.

Based on the average daily cases per 100,000 residents, each city or town has been designated as a higher risk (red), moderate risk (yellow), or lower risk (green) community. Waltham now falls in the yellow zone with an average rate of 4.5 cases per 100,000, according to state data.

Since the state began counting cases of the coronavirus in March, 1,413 people in Waltham have tested positive for the virus out of 57,225 tests given here. In the past two weeks 42 people in Waltham tested positive. Of those who tested positive since March, health officials have reported that 79 people have died from it.

There were 510 new COVID-19 cases and 32 deaths reported Wednesday. There have been 9,242 deaths and 129,753 confirmed cases statewide since the pandemic reached the Bay State in March.

The latest town-by-town data showed the positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 121 — or 34.5 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 82 — or 23.4 percent — communities and held steady in the remaining 148.

Waltham's percent positivity is 0.29 percent, which is just a bit higher than Newton's which was 0.21 percent. Newton had hovered in the yellow zone for the past two weeks before it just dipped back into green. Statewide, the positive test rate was 1 percent, up from 0.8 percent in early September.

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. Three towns had positive test rates at or above 5 percent over the last two weeks: Lawrence, Monroe and Windsor.

Got a tip? Patch reporter Jenna Fisher can be reached at Jenna.Fisher@patch.com or by calling 617-942-0474. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram (@ReporterJenna). Have a press release you'd like posted on the Patch? Here's how to post a press release, a column, event or opinion piece.