The seven-day average of the COVID-19 positive test rate in Boston was 2.3 percent as of the week that ended Aug. 22, Mayor Martin Walsh said on Wednesday, down from 2.7 percent the previous week as Boston continues to see increases in testing.

Walsh said that Boston's cumulative positive test rate -- the share of all tests conducted in the city since the pandemic began that came back positive for the coronavirus -- is now at about 10 percent. At one point, the mayor said, that rate was about 38 percent. Walsh said testing volume has increased in Boston in each of the last four weeks. Last week, the city processed an average of 2,028 tests per day.

On Wednesday, Walsh said his administration began an outreach effort to make sure businesses understand the regulations they must adhere to.

"We're making sure management and staff know the regulations and have the access to PPE and prevention efforts like social distancing and hygiene, distributing COVID checklists, fact sheets and signs including posters that demonstrate the importance of wearing face coverings, reminding employers they need to report to the Boston Public Health Commission when they have an employee that tests positive," he said.