For the first time since before the holidays, there are no Franklin County or North Quabbin towns in the state’s “red” or highest-risk COVID-19 category this week, though five are in the “yellow” or higher-risk category.
Orange was the only town left in the “red” last week, but it moved into the yellow with 22 positive COVID-19 cases reported over the past two weeks, according to the most updated figures released Thursday by the state Department of Public Health. The state categorizes cities and towns based on population and the number of cases.
Athol in Worcester County, Deerfield, Greenfield and Montague joined Orange in the yellow category. Athol and Greenfield both reported 44 cases over the past two weeks, while Deerfield reported 22 and Montague, 25. In Worcester County, Phillipston was also listed in the “yellow” with 16 new cases.
Only two towns were in the “green” or moderate-risk category: Erving with 12 new cases over the past two weeks and Sunderland with 13.
All other towns were listed in the “gray” or lowest-risk category this week, with most of those reporting fewer than five new cases. Buckland, Gill, Heath, Leyden, Monroe and Shelburne reported zero new cases over the past two weeks. Northfield and Colrain reported six cases each during the same time.
Though residents of some towns might hear about cases and wonder why the state is reporting no cases or fewer than they’ve heard about, it could be because the Department of Public Health’s reporting tends to lag by one, two or even three weeks.
In general, the number of positive cases in Franklin County has slowed since getting through the surge from the holidays, health officials have observed.
“We did better this week,” Greenfield Interim Health Director Jennifer Hoffman said. “They seem to be going down. I’m optimistic, but still watching the numbers closely.”
Hoffman said Greenfield hasn’t seen numbers under 50 since last November.
“That’s really nice to see,” she said. “I think people are gathering less now that the holidays are over. I also think more people have gone back to following mask wearing, social distancing and all the other protocols.”
Testing continues at the state’s Stop the Spread site at Greenfield Community College. People who do not show symptoms but would like to be tested for COVID-19 can do so at that site. Sign up for a self-administered test at bit.ly/2MgITMr.
Community Health Center of Franklin County is testing asymptomatic people on Tuesdays in Greenfield and Fridays in Orange. For more information, visit chcfc.org/testing.
Valley Medical Group in Greenfield offers testing by appointment only for its patients for any reason Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 413-774 6301 for an appointment.
Baystate Franklin Medical Center also does daily testing for people, symptomatic or asymptomatic, with a doctor’s referral. Visit bit.ly/36nfsPP or call 413-795-TEST (8378) to make an appointment.
The University of Massachusetts Amherst’s COVID-19 testing site is free for people who are asymptomatic. To sign up for a test, visit bit.ly/2MCCZVK.
Hospitalizations remained somewhat steady over the past week. Baystate Health has reported between 112 and 119 people were hospitalized with COVID-19 within its system in Western Massachusetts throughout this week. Baystate Franklin Medical Center in Greenfield was caring for five to seven people each day.
There were typically 10 to 12 people in its critical care unit in Springfield on any given day this week. The hospital system does not report in which towns and cities those people hospitalized reside.
Reach Anita Fritz at 413-772-9591 or afritz@recorder.com.