Medford Coronavirus Cases Taper After Post-Holiday Surge

MEDFORD, MA — Medford's coronavirus numbers are starting to taper following an explosion of cases after the holidays. In a community update Friday, Mayor Breanna Lungo-Koehn and Health Director MaryAnn O'Connor said the city reported 839 cases between the day after Christmas and Jan. 15, 587 of which had been confirmed since New Year's Day.

Those numbers have since fallen from around 70 new cases to 40 cases daily, O'Connor said. But she warned residents against getting complacent.

"We're still in the thick of it," O'Connor said. "People still have to be fairly concerned."

Lungo-Koehn highlighted the public schools' rigorous testing of students and staff as grades returned to hybrid learning. The Medford Public Schools was one of the first districts in the state to implement a widespread testing program.

"We are very lucky to be able to catch any positive cases, to not only stop the spread potentially within school but in families," the mayor said.