Melrose, Surrounded By High-Risk Communities, Remains Step Below

MELROSE, MA — The city continues to be shaded yellow in the state's color-coded coronavirus map, but the same can't be said for most of its neighbors.

Of the four communities directly bordering Melrose, three were deemed high-risk in Wednesday's update from the Department of Public Health: Malden, Saugus and Wakefield were three of 63 communities in the red. (Stoneham remains yellow.)

Melrose now has seen 350 confirmed coronavirus cases, an increase of eight from last week. It's two-week case count stands at 18.

The positive test rate is at 0.61 percent and average daily incidence rate per 100,000 residents is at 4.45, both slightly lower than last week's marks.

• Latest Town-By-Town Numbers: 63 Communities In Red

The city will go back to green when its average daily incidence rate per 100,000 residents gets under 4. It would go to red if that number increased to at least 8.

Melrose Public Schools is still on track to bring students in grades 2-12 back to class under the hybrid learning program next week. Even if the city slips into the high-risk category, it won't necessarily mean the district must move fully remote.