Androscoggin County now joins several others in the “yellow” category under the state’s COVID-19 health advisory system.

The color-coded system, developed by Governor Janet Mills’ administration, is being used to make recommendations for how schools in each of Maine’s counties can continue teaching safely during the pandemic. A yellow rating means schools in that county should proceed with a hybrid learning model.

Androscoggin, Knox, Franklin, Somerset and Washington counties are now yellow. Cumberland, Hancock, Kennebec and York counties are still green, but are being closely monitored.

According to the governor’s administration, the 14-day new case rate in Androscoggin County as well as the positivity rate tripled in the last week, from 6.6 to 20.7 new cases per 10,000 and 0.8 percent to 2.4 percent.

The positivity rate also continues to increase in Washington, Knox and Franklin counties. Somerset County still has the highest positivity rate of all Maine counties, at 4.6 percent, but that has not increased in the past two weeks.

While they are still green, Cumberland, Hancock, York, and Kennebec Counties are experiencing rising case numbers.

Over the last 30 days, the new case rate in Maine schools, including both students and staff, was 8.8 cases per10,000. That compares to 19.9 cases per 10,000 in Maine overall.