Swampscott Bucks State Trend, Coronavirus Rates Dip Lower

Swampscott MA

30 October, 2020

9:41 AM

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SWAMPSCOTT, MA — Swampscott bucked the trend of rising North Shore coronavirus rates week over week as the town moved out of the "high risk" category for community spread in the latest state report. A week after surging from 2.6 cases per 100,000 people — the metric the state uses to determine community spread — to 8.3 last week, the town dipped back to 7.3 in this week's report. Communities that stay above 8.0 cases for three consecutive weeks are forced to scale back some eased business restrictions and reopenings, as well as consider fully remote learning for schools. Swampscott went back to in-classroom learning for the first time this school year in a hybrid system this week. Statewide, there were 11.8 average daily cases per 100,000 residents, putting the state above the high-risk threshold for a third consecutive week. Last week, the state reported 9.2 average daily cases per 100,000. Statewide, the positive test rate was 1.8 percent, more than double the September low of 0.8 percent. Swampscott's positive test rate also dropped to 0.82 percent this week. The positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 184— or 52.4 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 57 — or 16.2 percent — communities and held steady in the remaining 110. With the town teetering on the high-risk threshold, Swampscott Director of Public Health Jeffrey Vaughan told Patch this week that residents should keep groups small and avoid indoor gatherings during Halloween weekend. Vaughan said he believes trick-or-treating can be done fairly safely this weekend if those going out and those handing out candy adhere to some key guidelines. "Doing it correctly is going out with your family and not crowding at someone's doorstep," he said. "If you are handing out candy, you don't want kids in your doorway all taking candy together. You can be in your doorway with the candy outside where you can see the kids in their costumes and alert them to only take one piece." More Patch Coverage: 'Our Goal Is To Educate People': Swampscott Director Of Health Swampscott Schools To Stay Hybrid Despite Coronavirus Surge MA Town-By-Town Coronavirus Stats: High-Risk List Soars To 121