Natick Coronavirus Cases Higher In Weekly State DPH Report

NATICK, MA — Coronavirus cases in Natick are heading in the wrong direction, according to the Department of Public Health weekly report on infections in communities across the state.

Natick is still a low-risk community, but in Wednesday's report new average daily cases rose to 3.6 per 100,000 people over the last two weeks. That's up from 3 cases per day on average reported on Sept. 30.

Natick added 18 new cases over the last two weeks, according to state data. However, the 14-day positive test rate fell slightly to 0.63 percent from the 0.67 percent reported on Sept. 30.

The coronavirus situation in Massachusetts appears to be getting worse overall.

The state Department of Public Health added 17 communities to the high-risk list on Wednesday for a statewide total of 40. Positive test rates rose in over half of the state's 351 communities.

The positive test rate over the last two weeks increased in 176— or 50.1 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate fell in 68 — or 19.4 percent — communities and held steady in the remaining 148. The statewide positive test rate was 1.04 percent on Wednesday, higher than the 0.87 percent reported on Sept. 30.

The state this week also moved forward to the next phase of reopening, which includes indoor entertainment venues, arcades and store changing rooms, among others. However, only communities deemed "lower risk" can move to that phase — that means any communities not colored red on the state's weekly map.