Coronavirus cases again on the decline in Worcester County

Photo | Courtesy | Fitchburg State University A sign advising coronavirus-related precautions at Fitchburg State University

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By Riley Garand

After a small spike in confirmed Worcester County coronavirus cases at the end of July and the start of August, the number of positive tests is again on the decline, falling for the last two weeks.

Worcester County reported 180 new coronavirus cases, and an estimated 10 deaths this week, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. That comes after the 189 cases for the week ending Aug. 12, which followed three straight weeks of cases exceeding 200.

The decrease came as Gov. Charlie Baker on Aug. 7 halted his economic reopening plan, reducing the allowable outdoor gathering size to 50 from 100 and indefinitely suspending the reopening of indoor activities with a large propensity for close contact, including laser tag, roller skating, trampolines and obstacle courses.

New cases in the county add to the 13,847 recorded since the beginning of the pandemic. Fatalities bring the total county death toll 1,023.

Statewide, there were 1,850 new confirmed cases between Aug. 13 and Aug. 19, adding to the 115,048 total. There were 98 new fatalities with a total of 8,645 recorded since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic.

The City of Worcester reported 69 new coronavirus cases this week adding to its 5,716 total.

UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital in Worcester reported 14 cases and five in the intensive care unit. The hospitals reported four new fatalities increasing their total death toll to 361, and 396 of their employees have tested positive for the virus to date.

Metrowest Medical Center in Framingham and Natick reported 12 new inpatients and two in intensive care. UMass Memorial Health Alliance in Leominster reported two new inpatients.

Nationally, there are now more than 5.5 million cases reported with 174,290 fatalities, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. Globally, cases have increased to over 22.7 million with 794,274 deaths.

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.