77 Mass. communities have the highest risk for COVID-19 infection – Boston.com

The number of high-risk communities in Massachusetts has risen yet again this week, with nearly two dozen cities and towns added to the red zone, state data shows.

A total of 77 communities have the highest risk of COVID-19 transmission based on their average daily case counts for the past two weeks, according to the state. There were 55 communities on the list last week.

The state also reintroduced its color-coded map. Many of the red zone cities and towns are on Cape Cod and the South Shore; another group is in central Massachusetts.

A community receives a red-zone designation based on a few factors. Small communities with under 10,000 residents are placed in the red zone if they have more than 25 cases total over the last two weeks, according to the state. For communities between 10,000 and 50,000 people, a red-zone designation is given if the community has 10 or more average daily cases per 100,000 residents and if the positivity rate is greater than or equal to 5 percent. For communities over 50,000, they need a daily average of 10 or more cases per 100,000 residents and a positivity rate of 4 percent or higher.

Heres a look at each of the high-risk communities, listed alphabetically:

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77 Mass. communities have the highest risk for COVID-19 infection - Boston.com