Health Care

Gov. Charlie Baker hinted Tuesday he plans to convene a group of public health, academic and business leaders to assemble a thoughtful framework for how Massachusetts might be able to resume more normal economic and social life once the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic subsides.

Worcester County had 17 newly reported coronavirus deaths Tuesday, tying the county's single-day high and bringing the total so far to 133.

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester has reported encouraging results from the first coronavirus patient it has treated with the blood plasma of a recovered patient.

Bruce Platzman, president & CEO of Leominster office furniture manufacturer, has told WBJ his company has made a number of adjustments as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Massachusetts school buildings will remain closed to students for the rest of this school year, Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday, a dramatic step aimed at preventing a rebound in COVID-19 transmission once the state emerges from the worst of the outbreak.

Milka Njoroge is CEO of Worcester home healthcare agency Century Homecare. She spoke with WBJ on April 2 about how her firm was navigating the coronavirus pandemic, as her workers mostly deal with vulnerable patients who have a variety of medical needs.

Confirmed coronavirus cases in Worcester County rose by another 110 Monday to hit 3,179, according to new Massachusetts Department of Public Health data.

During an interview on the WBJ podcast, the business partners working on a Worcester location of Sturbridge BBQ restaurant B.T.'s Smokehouse said they are hoping to open by mid-May and can do so even if Massachusetts' non-essential business shutdown over the coronavirus remains in effect until then.

Brian Treitman, the founder of B.T.'s Smokehouse in Sturbridge, and his business partner, Billy Nemeroff, join The Weekly Business Report to discuss the new B.T.'s location in Worcester and why barbecue restaurants have fared better during the coronavirus shutdown than most other eateries.

UMass Memorial Medical Center is starting on Monday a new program requiring employees to report before each shift through an app whether they have a new cough, shortness of breath or fever.