Massachusetts school virus cases take significant drop, New Bedford in top 10

COVID-19 among Massachusetts schools saw a decrease in new student cases for the fourth straight week after setting a record two weeks in a row.

According to the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, a total of 377 new COVID-19 cases were reported among K-12 students from May 13th to May 19th. 30 were reported for staff making the overall total in Massachusetts schools for the past week at 407.

The previous report, which was for May 6th to May 12th, revealed that 620 tested positive. 572 of the positives were students and 48 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.

Here are the statistics from some area cities and towns from May 13th to May 19th.

Acushnet: No cases
Attleboro: 1 student and 1 staff
Dartmouth: No cases
Fairhaven: No cases
Fall River: 5 students and 1 staff
New Bedford: 8 students and 2 staff
Plymouth: No cases
Seekonk: 2 students
Somerset: No cases
Swansea: 2 students
Taunton: 2 students
Westport: No cases

New Bedford had the 9th most new student cases, tied for the most staff cases and had the 9th most overall new cases in the state.