Why Braintree Is No Longer 'High-Risk' For Coronavirus

BRAINTREE, MA — On Friday afternoon, Braintree officials reported 11 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of cases since the start of the pandemic to 1,202.

Just a few hours later, the state Department of Public Health released its weekly report on coronavirus risk in towns and cities across the state. Braintree had been in that report shaded red as a "high-risk" community for virus spread since Oct. 29.

But on Friday, Braintree was downgraded to the less urgent "yellow" status. Coronavirus cases haven't suddenly dropped. DPH has changed how it rates communities for risk.

Now, a town of Braintree's size — about 37,000 people — would need to have more than 10 cases per day per 100,000 people over a two-week period and a positive test rate above 5 percent to be considered a red high-risk community.

As of Friday, Braintree was seeing about 11.5 new cases per day per 100,000 people over a two-week period, but the positive test rate was at 1.93 percent. Here's a look at DPH's new classification system:

There are now only 16 towns and cities in Massachusetts in the red category. The closest to Braintree is Brockton, which was seeing 24.1 new cases per day per 100,000 residents over a two-week period and had a positive test rate of 4.35 percent. The statewide positive test rate is 1.84 percent.