After reporting no positive COVID-19 test in Charlestown last week 2 percent tested positive last week according to the latest data released on Friday by the Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC).
Charlestown was the only Boston neighborhood to report zero positive tests two Fridays ago but according to the latest BPHC report, last week 456 residents were tested and 2 percent were found to be positive.
According to the weekly report, of the 15,374 Charlestown residents tested for the virus since the pandemic began 9.1 percent were found to be positive by last Friday. This was a 1 percent decrease from the 9.2 percentage reported by the BPHC two Fridays 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Following CDC guidance, the state’s face covering order will also be rescinded on May 29 and Governor Charlie Baker will end the State of Emergency on June 15.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 Charlestown’s infection went from 714.4 cases per 10,000 residents to 716.4 cases per 10,000 residents–a 0.28 percent increase.
To date, 1,391 Charlestown residents have tested positive for the virus.
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.