Barnstable Reports 250+ New Coronavirus Cases, Rising Daily Rate

BARNSTABLE, MA — Barnstable reported 258 coronavirus cases over the last two weeks, bringing it to over 1,300 confirmed cases, according to town-by-town data released by the state.

The town remained in the high risk category, averaging 41.2 daily cases per 100,000 residents, with a test rate of 5.85 percent.

Despite remaining high risk, Barnstable saw both its key metrics head in the right direction.

Last week, the town had 50.09 average daily cases and a test rate of 7.34 percent. There have been 1,377 cases in Barnstable since March.

Testing efforts have ramped up over the last week in Barnstable and across Cape Cod.

Testing sites opened at the Cape Cod Melody Tent in Hyannis and the Barnstable County Fairgrounds in Falmouth. The effort to add more testing sites comes as COVID-19 cases and positive test rates spike on the Cape. And despite the rise in cases, especially in Barnstable, Cape Cod towns were among the least-tested communities in the state.

More than half of Massachusetts cities and towns were designated high risk by the Massachusetts Department of Health Thursday. Positive test rates rose in 275 communities.

>>>MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: Majority Of Towns High Risk

The state reported 4,985 coronavirus cases and 44 deaths Thursday. The seven-day average of hospitalized patients was 1,761, up from 1,498 a week prior.

There were 383 patients in intensive care Thursday.

The seven-day average positive test rate was above 6 percent statewide, from below 4 percent as late as Nov. 28.

The town-by-town report labeled 187 Massachusetts communities as high risk for the virus, up from 158 last week.