Wayland Records First Coronavirus Death Since June

WAYLAND, MA — The number of active coronavirus cases in Wayland dropped slightly compared to one week ago, but the town has recorded its first coronavirus death in more than six months.

The number of active cases dropped from 28 to 26 between Dec. 7 and Dec. 14. The death toll rose to 20 after being steady at 19 since early June. The person who died was between 80 and 89, according to the Board of Health.

The number of cases in Wayland has risen noticeably in recent weeks along with almost every other town and city in the state.

The state Department of Public Health has rated Wayland a "yellow" moderate risk community for virus spread. The town was adding about 23 new cases per day per 100,000 people as of the DPH's Dec. 10 statewide report. The town's positive test rate was about 2.3 percent.

Wayland's positive test rate would have to rise above 10 percent for the town to become a "red" high-risk community. There are now 158 cities and towns on the high-risk list, including nearby Framingham, Marlborough, Hudson and Concord.