Salem Coronavirus Rates Stabilize Amid Statewide Spike

SALEM, MA — While concerns of a post-Thanksgiving spike in coronavirus test rates remain throughout the state and the country, Salem's recent rapid rise in cases did stabilize in the most recent state report.

Salem's cases per 100,000 people — the sole metric the state used until last month to determine the extent to which a community can reopen businesses — stood at 45.9 in Thursday's report. That is up slightly from the 41.6 cases reported in the Nov. 20 report.

Salem's positive test rate dropped from 4.09 percent to 3.78 percent during that same period. The city had 289 new cases over the previous 14 days leading up to Thursday, compared to 262 cases over the same span leading up to Nov. 20.

Until revising its formula for determining a community that is at high risk for community spread last month, any city or town with more than 8.0 cases per 100,000 people was considered a "red" high-risk community.

Free COVID-19 testing in Salem takes place at Old Town Hall via walk-up from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and Salem High School via drive-through from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Officials ask that those wanting a test do not arrive at the Salem High site prior to 3 p.m. due to school dismissal traffic. The line may be temporarily closed to new vehicles when traffic reaches Willson Road. The queue will be reopened to new vehicles once the line clears enough to allow more cars to enter.

If the line is temporarily closed when you arrive, residents are asked to return in 15-30 minutes to see if it has opened back up again.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported by far the highest single-day coronavirus case total on record Thursday, the second day in a row surpassing the peak numbers from the virus's first wave in April.

The state reported 6,477 new cases, up nearly 2,000 from Wednesday and more than double the high reported in the spring. That included a 680 case backlog due to a technical issue at a lab, the state said, but even without those it was the most cases on record.

The latest town-by-town report labeled 97 Massachusetts communities as high-risk, up from 81 last week. The majority of the state's cities and towns reported rising test rates.

State officials announced 49 more deaths Thursday. The seven-day average of hospitalized coronavirus patients increased to 1,324, compared to 963 last Friday.

The positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 209 — or 59.5 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 88 — or 25.1 percent of — communities and held steady in the remaining 54.

There were 35.7 average daily cases per 100,000 residents, up from 34.9 last week.

More Patch Coverage: MA Reports New High 6,477 Coronavirus Cases, 5% Positive Rate

Salem Coronavirus Case Rates Spike