City of Worcester sets single-day record for COVID cases Tuesday
Photo | Grant Welker
Worcester City Hall
The City of Worcester reported 923 new positive cases of COVID-19 on Tuesday, setting a new single-day case count record.
“These are an absolute all-time record high since the beginning of the pandemic,” said City Manager Edward Augustus at a press conference Wednesday, adding the figures did not include home test kit positives.
If home test kit positives, which are not necessarily reported to the state, were included, the overall positive rate for the city would likely be much higher, said Augustus.
The press conference came as yet another COVID-19 surge grips the region and beyond, leading public officials in Worcester to implore residents to get vaccinated, boosted, and tested when needed.
As of Wednesday’s press conference, there were 178 COVID-positive inpatients between UMass Memorial Medical Center and Saint Vincent Hospital, Augustus said. Between the two, 57 COVID-positive patients were in intensive care units.
“We expect case counts to continue to rise through at least mid-January,” Augustus said, attributing the rise in cases in part to holiday gatherings.
Hospitalizations and death are expected to rise along with case counts.
During the pandemic update, the city manager announced a forthcoming executive order, including a stipulation effective Feb. 1 requiring eligible city employees to receive booster shots, or else submit to weekly testing. Separately, effective Saturday, capacity inside all public buildings will be limited to 25%, all city commissions and boards will be required to hold meetings virtually, and senior center programming will stop taking place in person.
The January orders extend through the month with the possibility of extension. Augustus reiterated masking is required indoors in all spaces open to the public.
About 58% of Worcester’s population is fully vaccinated, compared to 74% of the state’s total population. Nearly 40,000 Worcester residents have received a booster vaccination.
“We are kind of the caboose on this train,” said city medical director Dr. Michael Hirsh.
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