Danvers Moves Out Of 'High Risk' Category For Coronavirus Spread

DANVERS, MA — Nearly two months after the state moved Danvers into the "high risk" category for coronavirus community spread, the test positive rate has dropped to the point where the town is considered a "moderate risk" community.

The metrics, which were revamped in November to encourage more in-person schooling, still had 192 cities and towns listed as "high risk" when released on Thursday. Danvers was one of 30 communities to go from "red" to "yellow" this week.

According to this week's report, Danvers had 247 positive confirmed cases over the past two weeks with 53.6 cases per 100,000 people. When Danvers entered the high-risk category on Dec. 11, there were 315 cases over the previous two weeks and 68.2 cases per 100,000 people.

The seven-day average positive test rate for the state fell to 4.44 percent, down a percentage point over the last week. Statewide case counts, hospitalizations and deaths also all fell over the last week, although all measures remained far above the lows over the summer.

The state is preparing to expand vaccine eligibility to all people over 75 beginning Monday, but Gov. Charlie Baker acknowledged a "very frustrating day" on the first day of registration Wednesday.

Danvers is the home of one of the four mass vaccination sites accepting appointments starting on Wednesday at the DoubleTree Hotel. Baker said on Thursday that 25,000 slots for next week had been filled at the Danvers site over the previous two days.

Those eligible for a vaccine can register here. Available appointments at the Danvers mass vaccination site will be released on Thursdays for the following week.

The Danvers Health Department said those who need assistance registering, or do not have access to a computer, can call 978-777-0001 and press 1 to leave a voicemail with a name, phone number and brief message, and someone will get back to you.

"Because Massachusetts is prioritizing state mass vaccination sites, at this time the Danvers Health Department does not have vaccines," the town said. "If supply is available, the Health Department will hold clinics in town and notify the community."

The state lifted its stay-at-home advisory and an order requiring most businesses to close by 9:30 p.m. Monday, the beginning of what might be a slow return to some semblance of normalcy for businesses. A 25 percent capacity limit for most businesses will be in place at least another two weeks.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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