Swampscott 'High Risk' For Coronavirus Community Spread

SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott has crossed the threshold into being considered a "high risk" town for community coronavirus spread, according to this week's state report.

Virus metrics were higher across the board in the town with 73.4 cases per 100,000 residents — a key metric the state uses for a "high risk" community — and a positive test rate of 5.24 percent.

The town reported 175 new positive tests over the past 14 days, according to the state report.

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

Swampscott Public Schools will switch to a fully remote learning model for all students starting Monday and delay the start of the winter sports season until at least Jan. 6.

The district, which switched students at Swampscott High School to remote learning this week had a remote day of learning Friday because of this week's snowstorm, will move all students to the remote model from Dec. 21 through at least Jan. 8.

Swampscott Superintendent Pamela Angelakis said the Board of Health made the recommendation to go fully remote based on rising coronavirus rates in the town, as well as increased cases among students.

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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More Patch Coverage: MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: Majority Of Towns High Risk

Swampscott Schools To Go Fully Remote, Delay Winter Sports