Melrose's Positive Test Rate Plummeting As COVID Numbers Improve

MELROSE, MA — Coronavirus numbers in Melrose are improving across the board, a step in the right direction after weeks of worsening data. The city remained in the state's yellow category for the second straight week.

The Department of Public Health on Thursday said Melrose's positive test rate has dropped from 4.52 percent to 3.53 percent — well over a 2 percent drop from two weeks ago. The average daily incidence rate per 100,000 is at 51, down from 58.4.

Still, there have been 207 cases confirmed the past two weeks, bringing the city's total from to 1,427.

"Our numbers are kind of odd right now," Health Director Ruth Clay said in a Tuesday night Board of Health meeting. Confirmed cases fluctuated from as low as six to as high as 26 within a four-day span.

Mike Carraggi can be reached at mike.carraggi@patch.com. Follow him on Twitter @PatchCarraggi. Subscribe to Melrose Patch for free local news and alerts and like us on Facebook.