After consistently rising for weeks, the number of communities in Massachusetts with the greatest risk for COVID-19 transmission has declined.
This week, 59 communities are in the red zone, compared to 77 last week, According to data from the state.
An updated map shows where the high-risk communities are.
A community receives a red-zone designation based on several factors. Small communities with less than 10,000 inhabitants are placed in the red zone, according to the state, if they have more than 25 cases in the past two weeks. For communities between 10,000 and 50,000 people, a red-zone designation is given if the community has 10 or more cases per 100,000 inhabitants daily and if the positivity rate is greater than or equal to 5 percent. For communities older than 50,000, they require an average of 10 or more cases per 100,000 inhabitants daily and a positive percentage of 4 percent or higher.
Here is a look at each of the communities at highest risk, listed alphabetically:
- Adams
- Avon
- Ayer
- Barnstable
- Brewster
- Brockton
- Chelmsford
- Chicopee
- Dennis
- Dighton
- Dracut
- Edgartown
- Val River
- Freetown
- Hamilton
- Hanson
- Harwich
- Haverhill
- Holyoke
- Lawrence
- Lee
- Littleton
- Lowell
- Ludlow
- Lynn
- Mashpee
- Methuen
- Middleborough
- Milford
- Monsoon
- Nantucket
- New bedford
- Oak bluffs
- Orange
- Paxton
- Plainville
- Plymouth
- Rehoboth
- Reversal
- Saugus
- Seekonk
- Somerset
- Southwick
- Springfield
- Sterling
- Sutton
- Swansea
- Taunton
- Templeton
- Tisbury
- Tyngsborough
- Wareham
- West boylston
- West bridgewater
- West springfield
- Westport
- Whitman
- Williamstown
- Yarmouth
Get the browser alerts from Boston.com:
Turn on news reports directly in your web browser.
Turn on notifications
Okay, you’re logged in!