Salem Coronavirus Numbers On Troubling Trend

SALEM, MA — Coronavirus numbers surged higher for the third straight week in Salem as the city inches back toward being designed a high-risk community in the state.

While Salem remained under the threshold of eight cases per 100,000 residents — the metric the state uses to determine risk level in a community — surged from 6.3 last week to 7.1 in the state's most recent numbers released on Wednesday.

Salem recorded 45 new cases over the past two weeks with a positive-test rate that remained relatively stable at 1.23 percent.

Salem, which has free testing sites at Salem High and Old Town Hall, conducted 4,375 tests over a two-week span.

The numbers also followed a troubling trend statewide as 63 communities were designed "red" high-risk in the new town-by-town date — up from 40 the week before. The state as a whole also passed the threshold of eight cases per 100,000 residents, while the statewide test-positive rate is 1.2 percent.

The positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 168 — or 47.9 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 80 — or 22.8 percent — communities and held steady in the remaining 103.

Salem has taken steps to mitigate virus spread in the city amid large crowds leading up to Halloween. The Board of Health decided to keep the city in step one of phase 3 of the reopening — maintaining limits on restaurant seating and public gatherings — while Salem Mayor Kim Discoll last week discouraged those who do not already have lodging booked, restaurant reservations made and tickets purchased to attractions from coming to the city this October.

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