Photo: COVID update for Feb. 26

With positive cases of COVID-19 over the past week nearing single digits, Belmont has returned to the state’s green color designation on Feb. 26, according to data from the state’s Department of Public Health.

Only 14 new cases were reported in Belmont over a seven day period beginning on Feb. 19, the new case count over the past two weeks indicates an average daily incidence rate of 9.1 per 100,000, and a positivity percentage of 0.98 percent positivity.

Belmont has entered the state’s green designation for the first time since Nov. 26, 2020 with less than 10 average cases per 100,000 or less than 5% positivity, over the past two weeks.

Belmont has reported 997 cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 since the state began reporting the data. There have been a total of 78 COVID-19 related deaths in the town to date, all of which are confirmed by filed death certificates with the Town Clerk’s Office.

Belmont schools reported six new cases in the six public schools; two each at the High School and Wellington, one at the Chenery and another district wide.

Nationwide COVID-19 transmission continued to fall in the past week as new cases are down by 14 percent, while hospitalizations and deaths are down by 15.6 percent and 5 percent, according to the New York Times.