Positive Test Rate in Back Bay Continues Downtrend

Last week the Back Bay’s  weekly COVID-19 positive test rate decreased for a fourth week in a row and fell under 1 percent after posting a 5.8 percent increase towards the end of April.

According to the latest data released by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC), last Friday 1,605 residents were tested and 0.07 percent were positive–this was a 30 percent decrease from the 1 percent reported by the BPHC two Fridays ago.

Overall since the pandemic started 51,591  Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End,West End and Downtown residents have been tested for COVID-19 and the data shows that 6.8 percent of those tested were COVID positive. This was a decrease of 1.4 percentage from the 6.9 percent reported by the BPHC two weeks ago.

Citywide, the weekly positive test rate decreased once again.

According to the BPHC 18,713 residents were tested and 2.1 percent were COVID positive–this was a 12.5 percent decrease from the 2.4 percent positive test rate reported by the BPHC two weeks ago.

On Monday, Acting Mayor Kim Janey announced that the City of Boston will align with the state’s reopening plan. All remaining COVID-19 restrictions will be lifted effective May 29. The city was going to delay reopening for three weeks but the positive test rate in Boston has remained under 2.5 percent for a couple of weeks now.

Following CDC  guidance, the state’s face covering order will also be rescinded on May 29 and Governor Charlie Baker will end the State of Emergency on June 15.

The Department of Public Health will issue a new face covering advisory consistent with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated guidance. Face coverings will still be mandatory for all individuals on public and private transportation systems–including rideshares, livery, taxi, ferries, MBTA, Commuter Rail and transportation stations–in healthcare facilities and in other settings hosting vulnerable populations, such as congregate care settings.

For more information on the lifting of restrictions visit https://www.mass.gov/news/baker-polito-administration-to-lift-covid-restrictions-may-29-state-to-meet-vaccination-goal-by-beginning-of-june.

The BPHC data released last Friday showed Back Bay, Beacon Hill, North End, West End and Downtown had an infection rate of 628.6 cases per 10,000 residents, up 0.5 from the 625.5 cases per 10,000 residents reported two weeks ago.

An additional 17 residents became infected with the virus last week and the total number of cases in the area increased from 3,486 cases to 3,503 cases as of last Friday.

The statistics released by the BPHC as part of its weekly COVID19 report breaks down the number of cases and infection rates in each neighborhood. It also breaks down the number of cases by age, gender and race.

Citywide positive cases of coronavirus increased less than one percent last week and went from 69,944 cases to 70,324 confirmed cases in a week. Sixteen additional Boston residents died from the virus last week and there are now 1,381 total deaths in the city from COVID.

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