Framingham Covid-19 Rates Below State Average, Still Firmly in Red Zone

Framingham’s known new Covid-19 infection rate was significantly below nearby cities like Marlborough and Worcester this week – as well as less than the state average, according to data released today by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

And that’s despite number of tests rising substantially, to levels near the record numbers seen at the end of last month.

In a commentary as to how bad things are getting elsewhere in the state, Framingham’s rate rose from last week yet still improved in comparison to Massachusetts overall.

Unfortunately, the city continues to report more fatalities. With three more deaths so far this week, 193 residents have lost their lives to Covid-19. One out of every 385 residents has died from the virus since March.

As you can see in the graph below, Framingham’s infection rate, while higher than the prior couple of weeks, is still lower than the post-Thanksgiving peak in mid-December. Unfortunately, we may be a week or more away from peaks following the Christmas and New Year holidays.

The city had an average of 67.5 new cases per 100,000 population over the past 14 days. Test positivity was 7.5%. The state-wide average was 78 new cases per 100K and 8% positivity. Marlborough is up to 93 per 100K and 10.3% positivity, while Worcester is at 92.4 and 8.4% positivity.

To put some of these numbers in context: Framingham had a total of 703 cases in the last 14 days. CDC says more than 200 per 100,000 population puts a community in the highest risk of transmission in schools.

(Test positivity between 5% and 8% is deemed moderate risk by the CDC.)