Wilmington Designated High-Risk, With 35 Active Positives

WILMINGTON, MA — Wilmington has 35 active positive coronavirus cases and landed on the high-risk communities list in Thursday's town-by-town data release. The town had 8.8 daily cases per 100,000 residents on average over the last two weeks, above the threshold of 8 to be designated "red" by the state.

The town had 30 cases over the last two weeks and a 1.95 percent positive rate.

Another 50 residents are in quarantine for potential exposure, according to the Health Department. The town has not had case counts this high since May.

"Most of the cases are stemming from gatherings in the community," Health Director Shelly Newhouse said. "PLEASE do not have indoor gatherings, especially Halloween parties this weekend. "

Residents have been attending parties where distancing and masking guidelines have not been followed, Newhouse told the Board of Selectmen Monday, when the town had 27 active positives.

"If we stay like this we are going to revert back to a Step 1 Community, which means lockdowns again," Newhouse said. "Wear your masks! And always be cooperative with the local Board of Health."

The high school went remote for two weeks beginning Monday after a party with 25 to 30 attendees. Attendees did not cooperate with Board of Health contact tracers, making it hard to identify who was at risk, school officials said.

Statewide, there were 120 other cities and towns in the high-risk category, Thursday, up from 77 last week. The statewide positive test rate rose to 1.8 percent, this week.

Towns that go three weeks in the high-risk category must revert to the previous phase of reopening, closing certain businesses and limiting the capacity of others.

Christopher Huffaker can be reached at 412-265-8353 or chris.huffaker@patch.com.