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The communities that lowered their COVID-19 infection rate to the point that they were removed from a list of the state’s riskiest places are Belchertown and East Longmeadow.
The town that was added to the red list is Palmer.
There are now 36 Western and Central Massachusetts communities on the red list, including 9 cities and towns in Hampden County. Massachusetts's color-coded risk system has four levels. They are, from most to least risk, red, yellow, green, gray (low to no risk).
The community with the highest COVID-19 rate is Ludlow. The town has an average daily COVID-19 infection rate of 70.7 per 100,000 people.
Springfield had the next highest rate at 64.9, followed by West Springfield at 52.3. Even though West Springfield is still in the red, the city reduced the number of incidents since last week, Nov. 27. The total number of cases reported increased in Ludlow and Springfield.
The other 5 Hampden County communities on the state's red list are Chicopee, Hampden, Holyoke, Monson, and Southwick.
The statewide COVID-19 infection rate for the week of Dec. 3 was 35.7 infections per 100,000 residents. The state is at the yellow level of risk for COVID-19 infections.
The Hampden County communities that pose the lowest risk of infection are Montgomery, where the rate of infection is 0; Wales, 11.2 rate; Brimfield, 13.4; Tolland, 17.2; and Blanford, 17.7.
Meanwhile, 10 Hampden County communities reported fewer incidents than the prior week, while 10 reported having more cases, and 3 reported no change at all.
The following is a list of Hampden County communities, their COVID-19 infection rates per 100,000 residents for the week of Dec. 3, their color-coded risk level, and whether the overall number of cases in town went up, down or stayed the same. Communities that are newly added to the red list appear in CAPS. Communities in which the case count went up are in bold.
- Agawam 34.6 Yellow Higher
- Blandford 17.7 Gray Higher
- Brimfield 13.4 gray Lower
- Chester 21 Gray Higher
- Chicopee 49.1 Red Higher
- E Longmeadow 32.8 Yellow Lower
- Granville 27.7 Gray No change
- Hampden 51 Red Lower
- Holland 27.8 Gray Higher
- Holyoke 50.4 Red Lower
- Longmeadow 18.5 Yellow Lower
- Ludlow 70.7 Red Higher
- Monson 29.8 Red Lower
- Montgomery 0 Gray No change
- PALMER 29 Red Higher
- Russell 30.2 Gray Higher
- Southwick 37.9 Red Lower
- Springfield 64.9 Red Higher
- Tolland 17.2 Gray Lower
- Wales 11.2 Gray No change
- West Springfield 52.3 Red Lower
- Westfield 28 Yellow Higher
- Wilbraham 28 Yellow Lower.
Massachusetts’ system for determining local risk and COVID-19 rates considers the size of a community.
To be a red city or town, a small community must have 25 or more total cases; a medium community must have an average of more than 10 cases per 100,000 people or a positive COVID-19 test rate of 5 percent or more; for large communities, they must have an average case rate of more than 10 cases per 100,000 people and a positive test rate that is 4 percent or higher.
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