UMass Memorial Health

Throughout Massachusetts, there were 16 newly recorded fatalities adding to the death toll of 7,890. Worcester County recorded two new deaths with 905 overall. 

The new cases add to the 12,143 in Worcester county since the beginning of the pandemic. Throughout Massachusetts, there were a reported 149 new probable and confirmed cases bringing the total to 107,218.

Worcester County reported 80 new coronavirus cases between Friday and Sunday as its death toll reached 900, according to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. 

During an interview on the WBJ Podcast, Dr. Mark Johnson, chair of neurosurgery at UMass Memorial Health Care, said the scope and longevity of the protests following the police killing of Minneapolis black man George Floyd show the public attitudes and policies creating racism in America are beginning to be dismantled.

In the wake of the police killing of unarmed Minneapolis man George Floyd and the subsequent protests against institutional racism, Dr. Mark Johnson from UMass Memorial Health Care said Central Massachusetts business leaders have an important role to play in creating real change.

UMass Memorial Health Care in Worcester has had its credit rating affirmed by S&P Global Ratings, a decision the New York City agency said reflects strong budget earnings and public financial support despite the major hit the hospital system has taken during the coronavirus pandemic.

Area business and organization leaders are stepping into the public forum to denounce systemic racism and racial violence perpetrated against black communities.

A few hundred UMass Memorial Medical Center staff, including the hospital system's CEO, stood for 10 minutes outside the Worcester hospital Friday in support of racial equality at a time when Black Lives Matter protests are being held around the world in response to the police killing of Minneapolis black man George Floyd.

UMass Memorial Medical Health Care is expanding criteria for patients being treated with remdesivir, a drug that in studies has been shown to treat coronavirus symptoms.

UMass Memorial Health Care has taken a financial beating during the pandemic as it forgoes revenue-generating procedures. But the Worcester-based system is committed to not laying off or furloughing any workers, its CEO says.