Sudbury Coronavirus Update: 16 New Cases

SUDBURY, MA — Sudbury's coronavirus case count grew to 36 on Wednesday, a rise of 16 cases from the last time the town released data on infections on April 6.

Apart from the 36 confirmed cases, another 64 Sudbury residents have been exposed to the virus and are in quarantine, and 13 have been clinically diagnosed — that means a doctor determined the person had coronavirus without an actual test.

(The state Department of Public Health began releasing town-by-town coronavirus data on Wednesday. That list shows Sudbury had 34 cases, but the data was pulled on April 14.)

Of the 113 people in town either exposed or diagnosed with the virus, 95 are under the age of 60, according to health officials. But the town saw the biggest growth in cases in people over the age of 80. Just two people in the group were either exposed or diagnosed as of April 6 — that number had grown to 11 by Wednesday. Coronavirus is thought to be especially dangerous for elderly people.

Town health officials urged residents to avoid unnecessary travel, pointing out that perhaps up to 30 percent of infected people are not showing symptoms, but are still capable of spreading the virus.

"Please think carefully about what you consider essential activities," the Board of Health said in a statement on Wednesday. "Continue to practice social distancing to help protect yourself, your family, and our community."