Why Framingham Is No Longer 'High-Risk' For Coronavirus

FRAMINGHAM, MA — On Friday afternoon, Framingham officials reported 45 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of active cases citywide to 230 — a recent high mark.

Just a few hours later, the state Department of Public Health released its weekly report on coronavirus risk in towns and cities across the state. Framingham had been in that report shaded red as a "high-risk" community for virus spread since mid-August.

But on Friday, Framingham was downgraded to the less urgent "yellow" status. Coronavirus cases haven't suddenly dropped. DPH has changed how it rates communities for risk.

Now, a city of Framingham's size — about 71,000 — would need to have more than 10 cases per day per 100,000 people over a two-week period AND a positive test rate above 4 percent to be considered a red high-risk community.

As of Friday, Framingham was seeing about 15.6 new cases per day per 100,000 people over a two-week period, but the positive test rate was at 2.42 percent.

Framingham reported 80 new cases on Monday, plus three new deaths, according to city officials.

Here's a look at DPH's new classification system:

There are now only 16 towns and cities in Massachusetts in the red category. The closest to Framingham is Norfolk, which was seeing 48 new cases per day per 100,000 residents over a two-week period and had a positive test rate of 8.42 percent. The statewide positive test rate is 1.84 percent.

The town's high-risk status is due to about 140 prisoners who have contracted the virus at the state prison, according to WGBH.