Seekonk, Swansea Remain Coronavirus Red Zones

SEEKONK/SWANSEA, MA—The towns of Seekonk and Swansea continue to be designated a coronavirus "red zones" due to a surge in positive cases locally and statewide.

The "red zone" status means the two communities are at the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission and have had at least 10 average daily cases per 10,000 residents and a 5% positivity rate.

The latest statistics released by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health on Thursday reveal that there have been 579 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Seekonk, with 165 reported in the two weeks before Dec. 17. Seekonk currently has an average daily incidence rate of 84.1 and a positivity rate of 13.94%, an increase from last week's average daily incidence rate of 79.01 and a decrease from last week's positivity rate of 15.85%.

Swansea has experienced 750 confirmed COVID-19 cases, with 205 reported in the two weeks before Dec. 17. Seekonk currently has an average daily incidence rate of 91.8 and a positivity rate of 12.20%, an increase from last week's average daily incidence rate of 78.82 and a slight decrease from last week's positivity rate of 12.61%.

Seekonk and Swansea's sustained upticks in COVID-19 cases come during a statewide increase in cases, with 178 communities at high risk for virus transmission as of Thursday. The state reported 4,985 new cases and 44 new deaths on Thursday, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 297,301 and the total number of deaths among confirmed cases to 11,305.