GREENFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Several communities are listed at a high level of risk for COVID-19 infections, according to the City of Greenfield.

Residents in Greenfield, Montague, Deerfield, and Sunderland are at high risk due to the surge in COVID-19 detected in wastewater, cases, and cluster events.

The opening of schools and a new COVID-19 variant, BA.2.86, are some factors impacting the surge in COVID-19 cases. “I feel scared, that I’ll catch it and have to stay home from school,” said Nkayathorn Thornton, a student in Sunderland.

“So, we’re trusting the vaccines, that’s what we’re doing,” added Thornton’s grandparent, Debbi Friedlander. “They have something to prevent, a potentially dangerous disease, so I feel like I want to get protected.”

Officials reaffirmed the updated COVID-19 shots made by Pfizer, Moderna, and Novavax are expected to roll out in mid-September. The City of Greenfield recommends residents in these communities wear masks to help prevent the spread.

COVID-19 symptoms

  • Fever (100.0° Fahrenheit or higher), chills, or shaking chills
  • Difficulty breathing or shortness of breath
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Muscle aches or body aches
  • Cough (not due to other known causes, such as chronic cough)
  • Sore throat, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nausea, vomiting, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Headache, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Fatigue, when in combination with other symptoms
  • Nasal congestion or runny nose (not due to other known causes, such as allergies), when in combination with other symptoms
(City of Greenfield)