By Catherine Chen, 2022
Updated January 7, 2020 (Originally compiled December 22, 2020)
A winter surge in COVID-19 is currently spreading across the United States (and the world) in the wake of colder weather forcing people inside, and more people visiting family over holidays. With these dire circumstances in mind, how is Bedford faring in relation to the rest of Massachusetts, and to surrounding towns?
To begin, this chart shows the risk designations:
| Green | <10 avg cases/100k people |
| Yellow | ≥10 avg cases/100k people |
| Red | ≥10 avg cases/100k people; ≥ 5% positivity rate |
For a point of comparison, the state of Massachusetts currently has a 6.14% per the Mass.gov COVID tracker. This high number has prompted Massachusetts to roll back its reopening plan, going down to from Step 2 in Phase 3 to Step 1 in Phase 3. This means reduced capacity at 40% in public places, such as restaurants, gyms, stores, offices, and houses of worship, down from 50% previously. For restaurants, a 90 minute limit has been set for dining in , and seating capacity is now lowered from ten to six people per group. Food court seating in malls is now closed. Limit for outdoor gatherings is capped at 50 people, down from 100.
Below are the COVID-19 Cases in Bedford and Nearby Towns as of January 7, 2021:
| Town | Percent Positive | Status |
| Bedford | 2.54% | Yellow |
| Lexington | 2.83% | Yellow |
| Burlington | 7.55% | Red |
| Waltham | 5.47% | Red |
| Concord | 2.44% | Yellow |
| Carlisle | 4.07% | Yellow |
| Lincoln | 3.62% | Yellow |
Covid-19 Cases in the Bedford School District
With recent surges of Covid cases in Davis and Lane school, Bedford is currently classified as a yellow (moderate risk) area. Taking a proactive approach to deal with rising case numbers, Bedford has started a free COVID-19 testing program as of December 12th where Bedford residents 4 and older can sign up on their website. The program is expected to run every Saturday until the end of the month.
| School | Total Cases |
| Davis | 9 |
| Lane | 10 |
| JGMS | 5 |
| BHS | 27 |
Preventing Exposure to COVID-19
As always, it is important to take proper precautions and to stay vigilant during these trying times, especially as we enter the winter months. Wear a mask when outside–make sure it is fully covering your nose and is not loose on your face. Maintain distance with others and avoid large group gatherings; wash your hands frequently for 20 seconds; and remember to clean surfaces and objects you touch frequently. Recommended: bring hand sanitizer and wipes with you; they are convenient for wherever you are. Even though this has been an unprecedented year, by following health guidelines we can do our best to stay safe.
The BHS Lookout 