September 25, 2020
Worcester County sees steady, low coronavirus numbers weeks into school
Photo | Grant Welker
MetroWest Medical Center's Framingham Union Hospital
Coronavirus case numbers have remained at a low, steady rate in Worcester County three weeks into September, so far avoiding rising numbers in other parts of the country now that some schools are back in session.
Worcester County had 232 new cases in the week ending Wednesday, higher than the weekly average in August but below the previous week's total and below a small spike in late July, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
State cases have trended slightly higher, hitting the highest weekly total since early August. Confirmed cases rose by 2,688 in the past week to hit 126,408 since the pandemic began. Statewide, deaths rose by 99 to hit 9,135.
Worcester County had 232 new weekly cases to hit a total of 14,159, the fourth highest in Massachusetts behind only Essex, Middlesex and Suffolk counties. Worcester County had 15 coronavirus deaths in the past week, bringing the total to 1,095 since the pandemic began.
Some Central Massachusetts communities have been highlighted by the state as having especially high case rates. Framingham has been in the state's most severe category for five weeks and Worcester for two weeks. This week, they're joined by Marlborough and Holliston. All four are in the Department of Public Health's red category for having eight or more positive cases per 100,000 in the past two weeks.
The City of Worcester reported 137 new weekly cases, nearly matching the 140 new cases from two weeks prior for the largest weekly total since the late spring. The city now has 6,268 total cases.
Colleges in Central Massachusetts have reported relatively few cases.
In the past week through Friday, Worcester Polytechnic has reported three positive cases, College of the Holy Cross one and Clark University and Worcester State University none. Framingham State University had 10 positive results on Sept. 8 but none since.
This week marked a major milestone in the country's fight against the pandemic, with the United States' 200,000th coronavirus death, according to Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. As of Friday morning, the university reported nearly 7 million cases in the U.S. and 202,827 deaths.
New daily cases have risen 17% in the past two weeks through Friday, according to a New York Times tally, with especially high rates in the Midwest.
Worldwide, Johns Hopkins has reported 983,751 deaths and 32.2 million total cases.
Worcester has announced a series of free walk-up coronavirus testing in the next week:
- Monday, Sept. 28, 12-4 p.m., at the Main South Community Development Corporation, 875 Main St. Flu shots available with insurance.
- Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2-6 p.m., at City Hall Common, 455 Main St. Flu shots available with insurance.
- Thursday, Oct. 1, 1-5 p.m., at Community Healthlink, 72 Jaques Ave.
No appointments are necessary, and a free mask and hand sanitizer will be provided with tests. All attendees are reminded to wear a mask or face covering and maintain social distancing.
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