Updated: Hingham Now in COVID-19 ‘Green’ Zone

November 6, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer

After remaining for three consecutive weeks in the COVID-19 "red" zone, Hingham has moved into the lower-risk "green" category.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health statistics released today -- one day later than the usual Thursday posting -- there were 12 new cases in the last week, down from 17 the previous week. The case count over the last 14 days is 26, with a total of 424 cases since Jan. 1.

The state releases weekly metrics that uses coronavirus case counts to show which Massachusetts communities are at high, moderate, and low risk for COVID-19 infection. On Nov. 6, Baker announced that the state would be modifying its risk assessment guidance.

According to new state guidelines, cities and towns with between 10,000 and 50,000 residents will be high risk if they average more than 10 cases per 100,000 people and a positive test rate of 5 percent or higher. Due to revised guidelines, the number of communities in the state classified as “high risk” — or “red zone” areas — for COVID-19 has dropped from 121 to 16.  Hingham was one of the communities that was moved out of the red, high-risk category, and is now considered green.

Moving into the "green" zone comes as especially good news since being in the "red" category for three weeks moves a community into the "high-risk" category, which means additional restrictions.

Last week, Town Administrator Tom Mayo reiterated that "a prolonged period in the 'red category' could negatively impact our local economy and our ability to enjoy many of the sectors and activities that have cautiously reopened over the past few months."

That being the case, effective Nov. 2, Hingham was required to revert to Step 1 (from Step 2) of Phase III of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan. Exactly how that would have affected Hingham is unclear since the town is now out of the "red" zone but, in part, some businesses would have been required to reduce their capacity.

As background, the Oct. 22 statistics showed 24 new Hingham COVID-19 cases since Oct. 14 and a case count of 39 in the last 14 days at that time.

The week before, MDPH statistics showed 19 new COVID-19 cases since Oct. 7 and at that time, a case count of 33 in the last 14 days.

Town officials continue to ask all residents, businesses, and visitors to be vigilant in following state and federal COVID-19 social distancing, face covering, and other recommendations.