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October 23, 2020

Coronavirus case numbers continue autumn rise

Photo | Grant Welker MetroWest Medical Center's Leonard Morse Hospital in Natick
By Grant Welker

Coronavirus case numbers are rising ever higher a month into the fall, with rates in Worcester, Worcester County, across Massachusetts and nationally showing worrisome increases.

In each of those first three cases — city, county and state — new case numbers this week represent the highest numbers seen since early June, when the first wave of the pandemic was coming to an end. 

For the second straight week, 13 Central Massachusetts cities and towns are in the state's red category for highest rates of cases: at least eight per 100,000 people over the past two weeks. In Webster's case, that rate has hit 20.4 in the two weeks ending Thursday.

Worcester County had 443 new cases reported in the week ending Wednesday, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. That's the highest since the week ending June 3, and more than twice the weekly rate through July and August. Worcester County now has a total of 15,681 cases.

Worcester County deaths have risen by 22 in the past week — the highest since a brief bump in mid-July — to hit 1,154, the fourth highest among counties in Massachusetts.

Across the state, 4,858 new cases in the past week bring the total to 142,941. That most recent weekly total is also the highest since the week ending June 3. Statewide deaths have risen in the past week by 130 to hit a total of 9,559.

In the city of Worcester, 191 new cases in the past week through Thursday is the highest since the week ending June 4. That brings the city's case total so far to 6,878.

Hospitals in Central Massachusetts are seeing low but slowly rising inpatient coronavirus numbers. UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester has 18 inpatient cases, including five in intensive care. Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester has 10 inpatient cases, and four in intensive care, and MetroWest Medical Center's Framingham and Natick campuses have 15 inpatient cases, with five in the ICU.

Across the country, cases are approaching their previous peak reached in July, regularly surpassing 60,000 new cases a day. Nationwide, cases stand at 8.4 million and deaths at 223,000, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Worldwide, cases are approaching 42 million with more than 1.1 million deaths.

The City of Worcester is holding free coronvirus testing clinics as part of the state's Stop the Spread campaign. Flu shots will also be available with insurance. The following clinics are being held in the coming week: 

  • Saturday, Oct. 24, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m., Green Island Neighborhood Center (Crompton Park), 50 Canton St.
  • Monday, Oct. 26, 12-4 p.m., Main South CDC, 875 Main St.
  • Thursday, Oct. 29, 12-4 p.m., Community Healthlink, 72 Jacques Ave.

A note on the coronavirus figures

State and Worcester County cases and deaths are weekly as of each Wednesday. City of Worcester numbers are weekly as of each Thursday. The state began adding probable cases and deaths to confirmed ones beginning June 1. Worcester County's case total included confirmed and suspected cases through Aug. 12, after which it includes only confirmed cases. Worcester County's death total was revised downward by four on June 30, and is an estimate based on state-reported totals through early August, and estimated numbers from that point forward based on most recent two-week reporting. The City of Worcester retroactively added cases on June 4. State and county data is according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, and Worcester data is according to the City of Worcester.

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