BOSTON — New COVID-19 health data issued by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Wednesday, Sept. 30, shows not everyone in Massachusetts will be allowed to move on to the next step in the state’s reopening plan.
The City of Boston, now registering an increase of 825 new cases within the last 14 days, have been labeled a “red zone” and therefore will not be advancing in the reopening plan.
>>>MORE: Boston delays further reopening; mayor cites house parties
News that Boston has officially entered the state’s highest risk category is not what some Boston residents who have tried to play by the rules want to hear.
“One person’s actions affect a lot of other people who don’t have a say on whether that person went to a party or didn’t,” said Heather Berlin, a Boston resident.
As of right now, only 322 cities and towns will be allowed to move on to Phase 3, Step 2. Communities not allowed to move on are: Attleboro, Avon, Boston, Chelsea, Dedham, Dracut, Everett, Framingham, Haverhill, Holliston, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Monson, Nantucket, New Bedford, North Andover, Plainville, Revere, Saugus, Springfield, Tyngsborough, Winthrop, Worcester, and Wrentham.
“If you’re not listening and obeying the rules then you become a source of the problem versus part of the solution,” said Jeanine Browne, another Boston resident.
The department’s weekly update to its color-coded risk designations moved 10 communities from moderate to lower risk status. Compared to the previous two week period, 83% of communities have either seen improvement or no change in their average daily case numbers.
While other towns such as Lawrence, Lowell and Worcester registered higher incidence rates this week that the last - and some were already considered a “red zone," Boston registered the highest uptick in cases based on the average daily cases per 100,000 residents.
In the state as a whole, there has now been a total of 129,753 confirmed COVID-19 cases, including 510 newly reported Wednesday, close to double the amount reported a week ago today. An additional 32 new deaths bring the death toll to 9,242 people who died with confirmed cases of COVID-19.
“I think we’ve gotten away with stuff because of the nice weather and people being outdoors,” said Fernado Gil of Boston. “Once winter comes, if people don’t take it seriously, it could get worse.”
The state’s town-level data is now available in an interactive map. You can explore the data in more detail below or view a full-screen version here:
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