Processing Your Payment

Please do not leave this page until complete. This can take a few moments.

December 24, 2020

Worcester COVID cases rise by nearly another 1,000

Photo | Grant Welker A coronavirus field hospital is set up at Worcester's DCU Center, with an area dedicated to monitoring patients by computer.
By Grant Welker

Coronavirus cases in the city of Worcester have risen by nearly another 1,000 in the past six days, indicating a sustained high level of spread in the weeks after Thanksgiving.

That rate roughly tracks with the past few weeks. The city's previously reported eight-day period — a day longer than normal because of the Dec. 17 snowstorm — included a count of 1,390. The new count of 977 over six days reported on Thursday represents a slight drop from the past two weeks.

Though cases have stopped rising, they remain far higher than before Thanksgiving, and Worcester Mayor Joe Petty said Thursday that the city is increasing enforcement of business regulations that limit how many people can be gathered indoors at once. Many have already been warned, and compliance will be aimed most at repeat offenders.

"The ultimate goal is compliance," Petty said.

Worcester, which now has a total of 13,762 cases, is also taking increased precautions of its own. Worcester Public Schools' winter sports have been canceled, and city offices closed to the public through Jan. 11, with many employees working remotely during that time. Of the city's total virus count, more than 1,700 are school-aged children, Petty said.

"This is simply not a risk we're willing to take," Petty said of school sports.

Image | WBJ Source: City of Worcester
Coronavirus case levels have remained at far higher levels since Thanksgiving. The city typically reports weekly numbers on Thursdays, but the most recent two weeks cover eight and six days, respectively, because of the Dec. 17 snowstorm.

Hospitalizations at the Worcester-based UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital systems continue rising, according to the city. The systems have a combined 247 patients with coronavirus, up nine from a week ago. Of those, 64 are in intensive care, a weekly increase of eight.

A field hospital at the DCU Center for less-severe coronavirus patients had 30 patients on Thursday, mostly from UMass Memorial and the remainder from Boston Medical Center.

The hospital systems are also dealing with their own staffs' illnesses. A combined 1,184 employees between UMass Memorial and Saint Vincent have tested positive, including 100 in the past week. The two hospital systems have had a total of 446 patient deaths, with 18 in the past week. A total of 322 Worcester residents are among those who've died.

Highly anticipated vaccinations began last week for healthcare providers, with 2,300 vaccinations taking place in the past 10 days at UMass Memorial, said Dr. Michael Hirsh, the medical director of the Worcester Division of Public Health and a doctor at UMass Memorial. Another 1,100 are scheduled for next week, he added, and 2,500 vaccines from Moderna have arrived to join 1,000 Pfizer vaccines that remain available. Saint Vincent has also had success in rolling out its vaccine program, Hirsh said.

Healthcare workers and long-term care facility patients are receiving vaccinations first, with the general population not expected to receive vaccinations for another few months.

Hirsh warned of another surge expected in a few weeks from Christmas gatherings, which public health officials have strenuously urged should be limited to immediate household members only. He also warned of lagging but consistently rising death numbers, which he said will rise through January.

"It's going to be a rough couple months coming up," he said.

Sign up for Enews

WBJ Web Partners

Most Recent

Most Recent

0 Comments

Order a PDF