Peabody Coronavirus Cases Surge Higher Ahead Of Holidays

PEABODY, MA — Coronavirus rates continued to surge in Peabody this past week with 968 positive cases reported over the past 14 days.

The city's cases per 100,000 people — a key metric the state uses in determining whether a city or town is at "high risk" for community spread — rose to 105.5, up from 84.78 last week. The metric was 58.5 two weeks ago, according to the state's weekly report.

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

Peabody's 968 positive cases over the previous two weeks were a jump from 752 last week and 585 two weeks ago, while the positive test rate rose to 9.44 percent from 8.9 percent last week.

The statewide positive test rate rose to 6.0 percent.

The next Peabody coronavirus testing events will be Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 from 4 to 8 p.m. at Higgins Middle School. Because Dec. 22 is a school day, no one will be permitted on school grounds or to line up for testing on Perkins Street before 3:30 p.m.

Pre-registration is requested but not required.

"Pre-registration helps us plan for staffing, spread out the car volume, and speed up the process," the Peabody Health Department said. "However, it does not guarantee that you will be able to be tested at your scheduled time. We anticipate long lines at all of our clinics, so please plan accordingly."

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 in74 — 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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More Patch Coverage: Peabody Coronavirus Cases Rise Sharply As A 'High Risk' Community

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