For Immediate Release: 10/23/2020 9:03 am
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update:
To date, there have been 6,878 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester, an increase of 191 from last week.
Worcester has had 12.1 average daily cases per 100,000 residents over the past 14 days.
This is the sixth consecutive week the City has been in the "red zone."
The City must be under 8 cases per 100,000 for 3 consecutive weeks in order to be moved out of the "red zone."
Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 488 (increase of 33); Holden: 179 (increase of 6); Grafton: 134 (increase of 4); Leicester: 204 (increase of 9). All changes are from Thursday, Oct. Oct. 14.
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital, as of Wednesday, Oct. 21, have a combined total of 28 COVID-positive in-patients (increae of 7) and 11 total COVID- positive ICU patients (increase of 6). To date, the combined facilities have had 387 COVID- related deaths (increase of 3). A total of 479 employees have tested positive for the virus (increase of 12). All changes are from Wedensday, Oct. 14.
There have been 107 cumulative COVID-positive cases at Worcester colleges and universities. There are currently 32 active cases, including 19 off-campus cases at Worcester State University.
CASES BY AGE
19-under: 614 (9%)
20-29: 1,041 (15%)
30-39: 1,147 (17%)
40-49: 1,057 (15%)
50-59: 1,069 (16%)
60-69: 740 (11%)
70-up: 1,176 (17%)
As an update on the COVID cases at the Worcester Fire Department 6 of 7 original positives have been cleared for duty.
There is 1 positive case at the Worcester Police Department. That individual is in isolation.
On Thursday, City Manager Ed Augustus, Mayor Joseph Petty and Dr. Michael Hirsh paid tribute to the 296 Worcester residents that have tragically succumbed to COVID-19, with a display of roses. Each single rose represented the life of those 296 neighbors and friends lost to this virus. We mourn their loss and we must continue to fight in their honor. Wear a mask, Wash your hands, Watch your distance.
This past weekend, the multilingual State Command Center field teams visited different neighborhoods and businesses and distributed hand sanitizer, masks and COVID-19 safety guidelines/education:
Residents are encouraged to partake of many free COVID-19 clinics being offered as part of the state's Stop the Spread campaign. Flu shots available with insurance. The following clinics are being held in the coming week:
As a reminder, the City of Worcester will be hosting a one-hour Telephone Town Hall Monday, Oct. 26 featuring Mayor Petty, City Manager Augustus and Dr. Hirsh. Residents will receive a call before the start of Town Hall. To ensure you can take part in this special Town Hall, sign up by next week for the free ALERTWORCESTER system by visiting worcesterma.gov, going to the Emergency Communications page and clicking on “Sign Up Now” under ALERTWORCESTER. Anyone with disabilities and requires assistance may call the City’s Customer Service Center, 508-929-1300, to sign up for ALERTWORCESTER. The Town Hall Call is being funded by State COVID Command Center. The deadline for signing up is Oct. 25.
