Peabody Back Out Of 'High Risk' Category For Coronavirus Spread

PEABODY, MA — Peabody is once again out of the state's "high risk" designation for community coronavirus spread after its positive test rate dropped below 4 percent in this week's state report.

While the city's cases per 100,000 people rose slightly to 29.6, the test positive rate fell to 3.97 percent in a 14-day average. Across the state, the number of communities considered high risk dropped from 77 to 59 this week with a positive test rate of 2.30 percent statewide in a seven-day rolling average.

Peabody had 262 confirmed positive cases over the previous 14 days leading up to Thursday.

Last week, Peabody had 29.2 cases per 100,000 residents and a positive test rate of 4.11 percent.

The state reported 1,884 coronavirus cases, five deaths and 95,048 vaccine doses. The seven-day average death rate of 8.1 is the lowest since tracking began at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020.

The positive test rate over the last two weeks fell in 168 — or 47.9 percent — of the 351 communities in the state. The rate rose in 123 — or 35.0 percent — of communities and held steady in the remaining 60. Two-week confirmed case counts rose in 136 communities.

There were 27.4 average daily cases per 100,000 residents of the state over that period, down from 28.1 last week.

The city will hold free, drive-thru testing for residents on April 28 at Higgins Middle School on Perkins Street. Testing will occur between 4 and 7 p.m. Proof of residency is required.

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(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)

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