Peabody Still 'High Risk' Amid Slowly Falling Coronavirus Rates

PEABODY, MA — As coronavirus rates have fallen dramatically across the state in recent weeks, Peabody remains classified as a "high risk" city for community spread as its decline in positive cases has been more gradual than much of the surrounding region.

According to the most recent state data, Peabody's positive test rate remained static at 4.69 percent while its cases per 100,000 residents were 35.5. That is an improvement from two weeks ago when the positive test rate was 5.98 percent and cases per 100,000 were 52.5, but the city remains one of 66 state communities designated "high risk" for community spread.

The statewide seven-day average positive test rate as of Thursday was 2.13 percent — down from a high of 8.6 percent in early January.

Last week the town-by-town report labeled 110 communities at high risk for the virus.

Peabody was one of 31 state communities where the positive test rate held steady. The rate fell in 264 — or 75.2 percent — of communities in the state. It rose in 56 communities.

The city will hold free drive-thru coronavirus testing for residents on Wednesday at Higgins Middle School on Perkins Street.

Residents can pre-register for the Cataldo Ambulance clinic here.

The Peabody Health Department will also hold a virtual coronavirus vaccine night that same day to provide residents information on the safety of the vaccine, its effectiveness, how it works and how to get it.

The information session will run from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a link to it here.

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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.)