Health Care

Grounded planes, shuttered restaurants and stores, and empty arenas, college campuses and office buildings are symbols these days of an economy in fast decline. The question that no one can answer with certainty is how far will the fall be and when will it end.

United Way of North Central Mass. set up a COVID-19 relief fund for those impacted by the...

UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester is taking increasing steps to help stop the spread of coronavirus, including requiring all workers on a hospital campus to wear a facemask and limiting hospital entry points.

Worcester's DCU Center will be used as extra medical care space with plans for between 150 and 200 beds, City Manager Edward Augustus announced Monday.

The woman was the ninth in Massachusetts to die from the virus and one of four new deaths announced Monday, when the Department of Public Health also gave the latest total coronavirus cases: 777 across the state and 42 in Worcester County.

On Monday morning, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered the closure of all non-essential businesses effective Tuesday, but restaurants are still able to provide takeout and delivery.

The impact of the efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus hit hard and fast in the Central Massachusetts economy.

Resinate, the fourth marijuana dispensary planned for Worcester, will open on Tuesday after receiving final approval to open by the Massachusetts Cannabis Control Commission.

Worcester city officials are due to tour the DCU Center on Monday with the heads of UMass Memorial Medical Center and Saint Vincent Hospital for potential use for caring for coronavirus patients.

Worcester County could see 20,000 coronavirus cases by Aug. 1 — and that's an optimistic scenario from national researchers if strict controls are put in place to limit the virus's spread.