Out Of The Red: Framingham Off Coronavirus High Risk List

FRAMINGHAM, MA — For the first time since early November, Framingham is no longer considered a "high-risk" community for coronavirus.

Framingham was one of 43 cities and towns that dropped off the state's list of red high risk communities over the past week. Cases have been trending down in recent weeks, and on Thursday two important markers — the positive test rate and daily new cases — fell below key thresholds.

As of Thursday, Framingham's positive test rate was 3.79 percent, and the city was adding about 32 new cases per day per 100,000 people. Compare that to one month ago on Jan. 14: Framingham's positive test rate was 7.51 percent, and new daily cases were at nearly 68 per 100,000.

Framingham was first rated a red high risk community in August, when coronavirus cases began creeping up around the state. The city was removed from the list in November, but only because the state changed how it measures coronavirus risk.

The state's weekly town-by-town report labeled 110 Massachusetts communities as high risk for the virus on Thursday, down from 153 on Feb. 4.

The positive test rate over the last two weeks fell in 271 — or 77.2 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate rose in 50 — or 14.3 percent — of communities and held steady in the remaining 30. Two-week confirmed case counts rose in just 37 communities.

Framingham is now shaded yellow on the state's map, which means there is still a moderate risk of contracting coronavirus.