Amherst and Sunderland are no longer considered high-risk communities for transmission of COVID-19, but the city of Holyoke remains in that danger zone, based on information released Thursday by the Department of Public Health.
Amherst’s two-week case count fell from 89 on Oct. 14 to 27 this week, and the average daily incidence rate plummeted from 15.7 cases per 100,000 residents to 4.8 cases per 100,000 residents, allowing Amherst to be marked yellow, meaning it is a moderate risk community.
Sunderland, where the two-week case count dropped under 5, the average daily incidence rate was 3.8 cases per 100,000 residents, placing the town in the gray, or low-risk category. The previous week Sunderland had seen nine cases over a two-week period and an average daily incidence rate of 16.91 cases per 100,000 residents.
But Holyoke still receives a red label, with an average of 12.7 cases per 100,000 residents and a two-week case count of 73 infections. That virtually matched the previous week’s statistics, with 75 cases over the two-week period ending Oct. 14, and 13 cases per 100,000 residents.
Holyoke is one of 77 cities and towns in the state, that in western Massachusetts also includes Springfield, East Longmeadow, Westfield, Chicopee, Monson and Buckland, that are in the high-risk category.
Amherst was joined by Easthampton, Belchertown and Granby as moderate-risk communities, with the average daily incidence rate per 100,00 residents in those communities at 6.6, 4 and 5.8, respectively.
Both Northampton and South Hadley were the only Hampshire County communities in the green, with fewer than four daily cases per 100,000 residents. In Northampton, average daily incidents were at 1.5 per 100,000 residents, and in South Hadley they were at 2.
Sunderland Town Administrator Geoff Kravitz said officials are pleased to see the town return to a low-risk rating, which if it continues for three weeks would mean being allowed to move forward with the next phases and steps of the state’s reopening.
Meanwhile, earlier in the week the Amherst Town Council discussed whether health metrics should be in place for opening municipal buildings.
At-Large Councilor Mandi Jo Hanneke told Town Manager Paul Bockelman that she would like to see this in place, similar to how school officials have negotiated an agreement with the teachers union for when infections are low enough to allow in-person education.
“We have not heard a single metric from you about when our public buildings that are non-school-related might be open to the public,” Hanneke said.
Hanneke businesses and restaurants have been open since June, with their customers becoming accustomed to measures such as wearing masks, socially distancing and washing hands.
“Most people have already gone to the new normal,” Hanneke said.
But Bockelman said his responsibility is about making town services available to the public, and there is a need for healthy employees. Opening the buildings to the public may mean not controlling the safety inside them.
Until a COVID-19 vaccine is deployed or herd immunity is reached, Bockelman said he doesn’t see opening Town Hall.
“I haven’t heard much demand from the public that ‘I need to come into Town Hall,’” Bockelman said.
At-Large Councilor Alisa Brewer said she appreciates the focus on keeping employees safe and the new normal doesn’t mean reopening Town Hall. “I am absolutely not wanting to hear that we’re planning to open anytime soon,” Brewer said.
Bockelman also reiterated that the Bangs Community Center, where the senior center is housed, will not be opening anytime soon for regular activities.
“For the senior center, it’s really the last place we’ll be looking to open,” Bockelman said, calling those residents the most vulnerable population in town.
Scott Merzbach can be reached at smerzbach@gazettenet.com.
