1,420 Coronavirus Cases Reported In MA School Year's First Count

MASSACHUSETTS — Local education agencies reported 1,420 student and staff coronavirus cases in the state's first count of the new school year Thursday, a much higher number than the last report of the 2020-2021 school year.

There were 1,230 student positives reported from Monday to Wednesday, versus 53 in the June 16 report. There were also 18 positives from pooled testing reported in the June report.

There were 190 staff cases in the new report, compared to just five in the last report of the previous school year.

Cases were reported by 248 public school districts, six approved special education schools and three educational collaboratives. Eleven districts reported 20 or more cases, with Springfield having the largest total: 70 students and eight staff members.

Most special education schools and education collaboratives, and 152 school districts, reported zero cases.

The increased positive case totals in part reflect a larger in-school population and more widespread testing than last year, as reported by the Boston Globe. But it also likely reflects the more transmissible delta variant; statewide coronavirus numbers are significantly higher than they were in June when the last school year ended.

How to use this map: Zoom in on the map below and click on a pin to see that education agency's coronavirus case count. You can also view the district-level coronavirus data in the spreadsheet we used to create this map.

Colors reflect the combined number of staff and student cases, from zero, green, to 20 or more, red.