Published December 17, 2020

NORTH READING — As of Tuesday, December 15, the Mass. Department of Public Health (MDPH) has notified the town that a total of 549 cases of COVID-19 have affected North Reading residents.

The total case number breaks down to 485 residents and 64 residents or patients at or associated with the Royal Meadow View nursing and rehabilitation center. A total of 419 people have recovered to date, and the North Reading Health Department continues to monitor 114 cases.

Sixteen individuals who contracted COVID-19 have died, including 13 people who resided at or were associated with Royal Meadow View nursing and rehabilitation center. Additionally, two town residents with confirmed cases of COVID-19 and one suspected case affected a town resident have died. The third death among a town resident was recently identified by the town through state public health records, but had occurred earlier in the fall.

Since the beginning of the school year, the North Reading Public Schools and/or the North Reading Health Department have assisted in responding to 12 staff cases and 23 student cases of COVID-19 in the public schools, as well as several instances in which staff members or students have self-reported to the school department or town as having been close contacts of positive cases.

“Be aware that either town or commonwealth contact tracers may attempt to reach you to notify you that you are a close contact of a positive COVID-19 case. Residents are reporting that the state Contact Tracing Collaborative often calls from a number in the ‘857’ area code. Local contact tracers may contact you from either the 664 or 357 local exchange, or in some cases from a home or cellular number,” stated Town Administrator Michael Gilleberto.

“School, public safety, public health and other municipal officials reviewed COVID-19 data on December 15, and while overall case numbers are increasing in the community, there continues to be confidence that the public schools are not a significant source of transmission of the virus at this time,” the T.A. continued. “While it is possible that North Reading may be designated a ‘red’ community according to weekly state public health metrics, there are no plans at this time to alter the current hybrid school schedule based on that potential designation alone.”

As the presence of COVID-19 continues to escalate, residents are reminded of the following:

• Stay home if you are sick.

• Maintain six feet of social distancing, wear a facial covering, and wash your hands often.

Previous COVID-19 updates produced by the town may be found by visiting: www.northreadingma.gov/home/news/town-north-reading-coronavirus-covid-–-19-information