Boston Remains High-Risk In First Update After School Slowdown

BOSTON, MA — Boston remains at high risk for COVID-19 spread, state officials said Wednesday in its weekly coronavirus report. The update came hours after Mayor Marty Walsh put a halt on the district's reopening plan due to a spike in the city's positive test rate.

Boston has seen 18,339 coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, an increase of 541 since last week's update. The two-week case count is at 972.

The city's two-week positive test rate has increased from .56 percent to .66 percent.

The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 residents rose from 8.5 to 9.99. A community will go back to yellow when that numbers goes below 8.

Walsh cited the city's recent struggles with the virus when talking about the decision to pause school reopening.

Children in K0, K1 and K2 will now begin hybrid learning no sooner than Oct. 22, a week later than initially laid out. It's still unknown when students in higher grades will begin hybrid learning.

"We believe that it's prudent at this time to pause the school reopening plan," Walsh said.