Middlesex County At High-Risk For COVID-19, Due to XBB.1.5 Variant

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BOSTON – Most of Massachusetts is not at high risk for COVID-19.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s COVID community risk levels, has more than half of theCommonwealth at a high risk category.

Barnstable, Bristol, Dukes, Franklin, Middlesex, Norfolk, Plymouth, Suffolk and Worcester counties are all now considered high risk.

Berkshire, Essex, Hampden and Hampshire counties are listed as a low risk.

The reason is the XBB.1.5 variant which is making up 75% of COVID-19 cases in New England.

Just 3 weeks ago, the variant only accounted for about 10% of the cases in the area.,

CDC data shows the XBB.1.5 variant now makes up more than 40% of cases in the U.S.

On Thursday, the Commonwealth’s state’s seven-day average positivity rose to 13.39% up from 9.58% the week before.

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