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Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Infection Rates Down In Most Central/Western MA Big Cities

COVID-19 rates went down in 7 out of 10 of Massachusetts’ largest cities west of I-495.

COVID-19

COVID-19

Photo Credit: Pixabay/BlenderTimer

The COVID-19 infection rates per 100,000 people went down in Worcester, Springfield, Chicopee, Leominster, Fitchburg, Amherst, and Shrewsbury, according to town-level data released by Massachusetts’ Department of Public Health on Thursday, Jan. 21.

All of these communities, except for Amherst, are in the “red” - meaning they are at the highest risk for the spread of the virus.

Amherst is in the yellow category.

Massachusetts's color-coded risk system has four levels. They are, from most to least risk, red, yellow, green, gray (low to no risk).

Meanwhile, in Pittsfield, Westfield, and Holyoke the COVID-19 rate went up.

HIGH RATES

Among Western and Central Massachusetts communities, Gardner has the highest COVID-1 rate with 139.8 cases reported per 100,000 people, averaged out over 14 days. Gardner has the 9th highest COVID-19 rate in Massachusetts.

The next highest rates, among the top 40 most populated communities this side of 495, was in

  • Leominster - 115.9
  • Southbridge - 113.7
  • Clinton - 113.6
  • Holyoke - 104.4
  • Springfield - 98.1.

LOWEST RATES

There are 9 green communities in Western and Central Massachusetts, according to the most recent data.

The green towns around here are Westhampton, Otis, Huntington, Russell, Wales, Sheffield, Princeton, Laensborugh, and Harvard.

Overall, the statewide COVID-19 rate has decreased by about 10 percent over the last two weeks - a condition that encouraged Gov. Charlie Baker to end the state’s 9:30/10 p.m. curfew and stay-home advisory. The curfew, which has been in place for about two months, will expire on Monday, Jan. 25.

TOP 40 CITIES AND TOWNS

The following is a list of COVID-19 rates per 100,000 people in Central and Western Massachusetts’ 40 most populated communities.

  • Gardner                   139.8
  • Leominster             115.9
  • Southbridge           113.7
  • Clinton                    113.6
  • Holyoke                  104.4
  • Springfield              98.1
  • Ludlow                    97.6
  • Chicopee                90.7
  • Worcester               90.3
  • Fitchburg                85.8
  • Agawam                 83.2 
  • West Springfield   79.3
  • Auburn                    79.3
  • Holden                    76.3
  • E. Longmeadow    75.2
  • Easthampton         75
  • Shrewsbury            74.7
  • Milford                    73.3
  • Palmer                     72.5
  • Westfield                 71
  • Dudley                      70.5
  • Wilbraham               70.3
  • Leicester                  67.9
  • Pittsfield                  66.1
  • Grafton                    66
  • Hampden               65.6
  • Lunenburg             63.8
  • Oxford                    54.5
  • Longmeadow       53.3
  • Charlton                52.4
  • Uxbridge               46.7
  • Westborough       46.6
  • South Hadley       45.4
  • Webster                34.6
  • Whatley                34.4
  • North Adams       33.3
  • Northbridge         31.4
  • Northampton      31.1
  • Greenfield           27.5
  • Amherst             26.6

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