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December 30, 2020

Worcester sets new single-day COVID record at 335 on Wednesday

Photo | Grant Welker The DCU Center in Worcester has been set up as a field hospital for coronavirus patients.
By Grant Welker

The city of Worcester appears to already be seeing the repercussions of Christmas gatherings during the coronavirus pandemic.

City officials reported 335 new positive cases on Wednesday alone, its highest single-day mark yet. That number was nearly half of the 772 reported in the past six days, with many new-case numbers showing a temporary lull during and just after the holiday.

"We're starting to see the post-Christmas spike," said City Manager Edward Augustus, who spoke at a press conference at City Hall after returning from a few weeks in which he stayed home after testing positive for the virus and for pneumonia.

[Related: In face of post-Christmas COVID surge, Central Mass. hospital bed capacity shrinking]

The city typically reports weekly case numbers each Thursday but did so a day early this week because of New Year's Eve. The 772 new cases in six days puts the city roughly in line with the rate of the week prior and a slight slowing from record highs in the two weeks before Christmas.

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 recent weeks have varied because of the Dec. 17 snowstorm and New Year's Eve.

Since the pandemic began, Worcester now has 14,534 cases and 329 deaths, the latter a six-day increase of seven.

The UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital systems in Worcester have 276 combined inpatient coronavirus cases, according to the city, a six-day increase of 29. Intensive care patients now number 67, up by three in that span, and deaths at the hospitals rose by 23 to hit 469. The hospitals' own healthcare workers have now totaled 1,285 positive virus cases, up by 101 in six days.

A field hospital at the DCU Center has 43 patients as of Wednesday, with an expectation of rising to 75 patients over the coming weekend, Augustus said.

[Related: Greater Worcester COVID tally far worse than spring, but no longer among nation's worst]

Vaccinations, which began just over two weeks ago, have already covered most of the two healthcare system's front-line workers, according to the city. Between UMass Memorial and Saint Vincent, roughly 6,000 vaccinations have been given, with subsequent second doses coming in the next few weeks.

Worcester officials are planning to lead a regional vaccination program for first responders. Roughly 2,000 doses are expected in the program's first phase, Augustus said.

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