City of Worcester, MA

COVID-19 Update for May 1; 2,190 Positive Cases

For Immediate Release: 5/1/2020 5:43 pm

• There are 2,190 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. This is an increase of 119 cases.
  
  
• Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 2,074 new cases (average of 67 new cases per day).
  
  
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 175; Holden: 55; Grafton: 55; Leicester: 94; Millbury: 150 
  
  
• There are 5 positive cases to date in the Worcester Police Department and 6 positive cases to date in the Worcester Fire Department. 
  
  
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 284 total COVID-positive in-patients and 107 total COVID-positive ICU patients today. To date, their facilities have had 107 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 175 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
  
  
• The homeless shelter at the DCU Center has 21 positive clients today. The DCU had 20 non-homeless medical patients today.
  
  
• Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 65 positive patients are currently at the Beaumont facility (6 admissions today; 6 discharges today).
  
  
• Statewide Facemask Order: On April 14, the City Manager issued an order requiring employees of essential retail businesses in the City to wear masks or face coverings. This included all essential retail businesses, such as grocery stores, pharmacies and other retail stores. On April 17, that order was extended to include all customers of essential retail businesses. Today Governor Baker issued a statewide order in that regard, and extended it to public transportation. Residents should continue to follow the Governor’s Order, the City Orders, and continue practicing social distancing and wear masks or face coverings.

• Walmart update: 258 employees were tested yesterday and 38 came back positive. 23 previous positive cases, added to the 38 from testing yesterday is a total of 61 positive cases among employees. 119 employees were tested today. Results of those tests are pending. (377 total employees have been tested)
  
  
• Testing update: The Albion - On Wednesday (4/29), Worcester EMS tested 53 residents and 5 staff members (for a total of 58 tests). 17 residents tested positive for COVID-19. All staff tested negative. There were also 2 previously positive residents, for a total of 19 positive residents. Last night, HHS staff communicated with 17 residents their test results, quarantine procedures, and monitoring recommendations. HHS staff also provided them with 10 masks, gloves, sanitizers, and soap packets for each individual and their room partners. HHS is collaborating with Fallon to acquire food for onsite distribution in order to support residents during their quarantine. 60 SMOC shelter clients were tested yesterday by Worcester EMS - 1 client tested positive. The remainder of the clients will be tested today. 
  
  
• The Worcester Together Fund has raised more than $5.8 million in five weeks. Worcester Together recently received the following gifts: $50,000 from Walmart and $3,333 from United Way Worldwide. City of Worcester employees have raised $3,743 for the fund to date with 97 donors. The FaceMask Challenge has raised almost $11,000 with 200 donors. To donate to the fund, visit worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
  
  
• Senior update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 5,785; Number of outreach calls made today: 229; Number of meals delivered today: 1,153. 

• The City of Worcester COVID-19 information line can be reached at 508-799-1019. There is an option for individuals to speak live with a nurse, Monday through Friday 9 am to 4 pm. In the month of April, the line received 1,629 total calls with 600 calls connected to a live nurse.

• Today, the City Manager honored another unsung hero within the City workforce, Nikki Nixon who serves as an Epidemiologist in our Division of Public Health. She has been with the City for four years. Nikki has played a critical role, working closely with the public health nurses to monitor and look for trends with communicable diseases in Worcester and within the public health district. She also plays a key role in the research and evaluation portion of the Community Health Improvement Plan, capturing and analyzing data to identify movement or challenges with the 100 evidenced based strategies designed to improve the health and safety of our community. During the pandemic response, Nikki has spent countless hours tracking positive COVID-19 cases across the city and four communities in the region being provided public health nursing services. This data is critical to ensure we are working with our residents to keep them safe and healthy. She holds a master’s degree in epidemiology/public health and a bachelor’s degree in public health, both from UMass Amherst.