MA schools see record 1,009 COVID-19 cases this week as Fall River has most staff cases, NB most student cases

COVID-19 cases among Massachusetts schools saw another increase this week along with an increase in several area communities.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 591 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from December 9 to December 16. 418 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past week at 1,009.

The report from the week prior revealed that 923 tested positive. 503 of the positives were students and 420 were staff.

The report only includes positive cases of students and staff who have been in school for either in-person or hybrid learning. Remote learning cases are not counted.

Several Massachusetts communities, including Fall River, increased remote learning, but that did not lower the numbers statewide, however, it had a marked difference in Fall River for student cases since remote cases are not counted.

Here are the statistics from some area cities and towns from December 9 to December 16.

Attleboro: 6 students and 2 staff
Dartmouth: 5 students
Fairhaven: 4 students
Fall River: 1 students and 10 staff
New Bedford: 33 students and 9 staff
Plymouth: 12 students and 7 staff
Seekonk: 4 students and 3 staff
Somerset: 8 students and 2 staff
Swansea: 4 student and 2 staff
Taunton: 1 student and 2 staff
Westport: 3 students

New Bedford is first in the state for student cases and 1 less than first in staff cases. Fall River was tied for first in staff cases.