City of Worcester, MA

City officials hold COVID-19 press conference

For Immediate Release: 2/6/2022 10:45 am

With COVID-19 case counts dropping, to a current seven day average of 135 in Worcester, and the Omicron wave coming down, City officials are working on a number of carefully planned next steps regarding pandemic-related safety measures.

Public health experts expect COVID-19 cases to continue to decline over the next couple of weeks, but officials could reconsider any of the plans that follow in the event of a major change in the pandemic in the wrong direction. Until these changes go into effect, please remain vigilant in following the usual precautions so that we can sustain our recent positive trends.

As of Monday, February 14, full public access to buildings will be restored, boards and commissions can meet in person, and the Senior Center will reopen to in-person programming.

The City employee booster mandate will remain in place.

At the next Board of Health meeting on Monday, February 7, Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh and City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr. will request a vote to rescind the Emergency Regulation requiring face coverings in all indoor private common spaces in the workplace and indoor private spaces open to the public, effective Friday, February 18.

If passed by the Board of Health, the City’s mask mandate will cease the day before President’s Day weekend, and Worcester will then adhere to the Massachusetts Department of Health’s ongoing Mask Advisory that encourages – but does not require – all residents, regardless of vaccination status, to wear a mask or face covering in an indoor setting outside their home.

Masking is specifically recommended if you have a weakened immune system; if you are at increased risk for severe disease because of your age or an underlying medical condition; or if someone in your household has a weakened immune system, is at increased risk for severe disease, or is unvaccinated.

Anyone else who wishes to continue to wear a mask is encouraged to do so. Any establishment that wishes to enact its own mask mandate is free to do so.

Please also note that federal and state regulations still require masks in certain situations. For example, masks will continue to be required on WRTA busses and all means of public transportation and ride shares as per the CDC.

The City regulation requiring masks at all K-12 public, private, parochial, and charter schools will remain in effect, mirroring the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s ongoing public school requirement, through at least February 28.

Additionally, Dr. Hirsh and City Manager Augustus will request that the Board of Health add a special exemption, effective immediately following their vote, for Worcester colleges and any institution or workplace with a vaccine mandate in place. Any such institution or workplace whose population reaches at least a 90 percent vaccination rate can choose to opt out of the City mask mandate for its own campus or buildings before February 18. This exemption only applies to places with a vaccine requirement.

BY THE NUMBERS

• To date, there have been 51,927 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. That represents an increase of 946 cases from our total last Friday, which was 50,981 and 121 new positive tests were added since yesterday.
• Our seven-day average continues to fall, and is currently 135.14, which is less than half of what it was last week, and now well below last year’s peak of about 200.
• While the reported numbers have decreased substantially over the last couple of weeks, people are continuing to utilize at-home rapid tests – which are not reported – and last weekend’s snowstorm prevented many people from getting tested.
• Also, it is not too late to order a free set of four tests from the federal government by visiting “COVID tests DOT GOV.” You can now also call 1-800-232-0233 to place your order.
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns as of yesterday:
  • Shrewsbury: 7,026 (+142 from last week)
  • Grafton: 2,999 (+47 from last week)
  • To date, 501 Worcester residents have died due to COVID-19 (an increase of six from last week).

VACCINATIONS/BOOSTERS

• Overall, 60 percent (124,525) of the total population in Worcester is now fully vaccinated (up 819 people from last week), while 72 percent (148,213) have received at least one dose (up 1 percent from last week).
• Of Worcester’s fully vaccinated population, 43 percent have received a booster dose (2 percent increase from last week). That compares to 52 percent statewide and 42 percent of the country’s fully vaccinated population.
• The City is continuing to trend ahead of the national average, but still needs to catch up with the state.
• The best way to avoid severe illness, hospitalization, and death is to be fully up to date on vaccines by getting your booster shot.
• As of today, 60.14 percent of City employees are already boosted, with another 19.26 percent fully vaccinated but not yet eligible for the booster.
• Only around 5 percent of fully vaccinated employees have initially opted into testing since the booster mandate was announced.
• Those numbers could be adjusted further since we are working closely with employees who have been unable to update their status in our database or acquire a booster due to recent inclement weather.
• For dates and times of COVID-19 testing and vaccines/booster clinics, please visit worcesterma.gov.