Salem Coronavirus Cases Push Higher Ahead Of Holidays

SALEM, MA — Coronavirus rates continued to surge in Salem this past week with 690 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 90.9, up from 66.32 last week. The metric was 45.9 two weeks ago, according to the state's weekly report.

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

Salem's 690 positive cases over the previous two weeks were a jump from 492 last week and 289 two weeks ago, while the positive test rate rose to 6.33 percent from 5.13 percent last week.

The statewide positive test rate rose to 6.0 percent.

Salem residents have another option for coronvirus testing through the end of the month with appointments now being accepted at the Mayor Jean Levesque Community Life Center on Bridge Street from Dec. 21 to Dec. 29.

The Salem Coronavirus Awareness Network site is available for residents to book one appointment at a time. A separate appointment must be booked for each member of the household and are given in 30-minute windows.

Tests will be Dec. 21 from 5 to 8 p.m., Dec. 22 from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 23 from 9 a.m. to noon, Dec. 26 from 1 to 4 p.m., Dec. 27 from 9 a.m. to noon and Dec. 29 from 1 to 4 p.m.

No proof of U.S. citizenship or of insurance are necessary for these tests. The nasal swab tests, from Cataldo Ambulance EMTs, will return results within 24 to 48 hours. No appointment is required for "Stop the Spread" testing — which is open to residents and non-residents of Salem — at Salem High School and Old Town Hall.

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 in 74 — 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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