Danvers 'High Risk' For Coronavirus Spread Ahead of Holidays

DANVERS, MA — Danvers remained in the state's "high risk" category for community coronavirus spread with 388 positive tests recorded over the past 14 days, according to this week's state report.

The city's cases per 100,000 people — a key metric the state uses in determining whether a city or town is "high risk" for community spread — rose to 84.2, up from 68.27 last week.

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.

The town's 388 positive cases were a jump from 315 last week, while the positive test rate lowered slightly to 6.77 percent from 6.85 percent last week.

The statewide positive test rate rose to 6.0 percent.

Danvers moved the three remaining resident drive-thru test days this month to the high school parking lot to cut down on wait times and car queuing issues.

Those who registered for Thursday's testing, which was postponed because of the snowstorm, were asked to go Friday from 8 a.m. to noon. Residents are advised that they should expect about an hour wait regardless of their registration time.

Testing on Dec. 21 and Dec. 29 will also be held at the high school on Cabot Street because of waiting and traffic considerations.

"Free and accessible testing for COVID-19 is a vital component of our strategy," Danvers Public Health Director Mark Carleo said. "Getting tested is a good idea even if you feel healthy, since asymptomatic spread is a contributor to our current upward case counts.

"Wear a mask. Social distance. Avoid gatherings. Wash your hands. It's pretty simple."

The statewide positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 243 —or 69.2 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 74 — or 21.1 percent of — communities and held steady in the remaining 34.

There were 65.1 average daily cases per 100,000 residents of the state over that period, up from 50 last week.

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