Andover Remains Yellow In State Update, Positive Rate Falls

ANDOVER, MA — Forty communities were designated high-risk in the new town-by-town data released by the state Wednesday, but Andover remained in the moderate-risk, yellow, cateogry.

State rules mean that high-risk communities, plus others that were high-risk in the last two updates, cannot move on to the next phase. Towns were marked high-risk, or red, if they reported more than eight confirmed COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents over the past two weeks.

The state deemed Andover "yellow" for a second week in a row. The town averaged 4.96 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, above the four per 100,000 moderate-risk threshold.

The town's positive test rate and two-week case count both fell slightly.

>>MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: 40 High-Risk Communities

The latest data showed the positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 176 of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 68 communities and held steady in the remaining 148.

Andover's case count over the last 14 days was 25, bringing the total number of cases to 401, according to state data. The town conducted 3,626 tests over the past two weeks, 30 of which came back positive.

North Andover has been a red community for the last two weeks, due to a case outbreak at Merrimack College's Monican Hall. The dormitory is located in Andover but counted as part of North Andover's total, due to the college's address.

>>North Andover Officials Ask Governor To Let Town Reopen Further

Andover percent positive rate over the last two weeks was 0.83 percent.

View the state's interactive COVID-19 map.

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