Plympton’s Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Stephen G. Silva told The Express on Tuesday that Plympton’s increase to “Red” as of last Thursday was expected. “We have been hovering in a yellow status for some time.” The color status is based on a percentage of positive cases weighted against total persons tested, and then compared to the total community population. This analysis is performed at the state level, Silva explained.
“When certain criteria are reached, the zone color changes. Because we have such a small population compared to other communities, a small shift can change the equation and move us into a different category. We have been the only community for months that remained in a lesser group for the entire area. When you look at the state maps we are “surrounded” by red.
Last Thursday Plympton’s positive COVID-19 case count was 28, with another four additional cases as of Tuesday, according to Chief Silva.
“There is no smoking gun or hot spot that we have been able to identify at this time,” Silva said. “I expected a rise due to increased testing as a result of better awareness and of course the return from holiday travel. It is interesting that many people are testing as a safety measure only to find they are positive. Many are fully asymptomatic or have had very mild symptoms; that is not to say others are not becoming very ill,” Silva said. “The change since spring is the more asymptomatic cases especially in the younger population. This change in my opinion may breed a false sense of security.
“We are monitoring this very closely. I optimistically hope the next set of numbers will show either a plateau or decline.”