Coronavirus

Current City of Worcester COVID-19 Status

For the latest data on the City's COVID-19 cases, wastewater, vaccination, hospitalization and deaths, please View Our Updated Dashboard.

On Friday, May 13, 2022, Worcester health officials issued a citywide mask advisory due to a surge in positive COVID-19 cases and rising coronavirus levels in regional wastewater. It is strongly recommended that all residents wear masks when indoors and around others. In addition, it is recommended that all eligible residents be up to date on vaccines and boosters, avoid crowded spaces when possible and get tested for COVID-19 when exhibiting symptoms. Read the Full Advisory Letter.

Face coverings continue to be required in Worcester's hospitals until further notice. Any other business, institution or organization may also enact its own mask requirement.

Worcester County COVID-19 Community Level: Medium.

Resources:

• Mask Advisory Sign for Use by Worcester Businesses & Other Institutions - English | Spanish | Vietnamese | Portuguese | Albanian | Twi
• Massachusetts Department of Public Health COVID-19 Mask Requirements
• CDC's Use and Care of Masks

COVID-19 Testing: Stop the Spread

Walk-Up Testing

As of Monday, March 21, the UMass Memorial Health clinic at the Mercantile Center offers free, walk-up testing two days a week. Days and times are listed below. Please see our Vaccination Information page for a fully updated schedule of vaccine/booster clinics.

COVID-19 Testing at Mercantile Center:

• Mondays, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Thursdays, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Self-Test Kits

As of December 15, 2022, for a limited time, the public can order another round of free at-home COVID-19 tests (4 per household) from www.COVIDtests.gov.

Since December 2021, the City of Worcester has distributed nearly 150,000 free at-home COVID-19 tests to residents through more than 40 partner organizations focused on serving those hardest hit by the pandemic who might not otherwise have access to testing.

If you previously received an iHealth Labs OTC rapid antigen test kit from one of the City's partner organizations, please refer to instructions and additional information below:

• Video Instructions (Use "iHealth Rapid Antigen Test" Dropdown)
• COVID-19 Self-Test at Home Instructions
• COVID-19 Self-Test Additional Information
• iHealth Kits Extended Expiration Dates

Vaccination Overview

Am I Eligible?

Anyone ages 6 months and older is eligible to receive a vaccine. Individuals ages 6 months - 17 years can receive the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. People ages 12 and older can receive the Novavax vaccine, and those ages 18 and older can receive any vaccine.

Booster Shots

Updated (bivalent) Pfizer and Moderna boosters are now available and are replacing the original (monovalent) boosters. The bivalent doses have been formulated to protect against the Omicron variant, as well as original strains. Novavax (non-mRNA, monovalent) boosters have also been approved.

Fully vaccinated individuals ages 5 and older are eligible and encouraged to receive an updated (bivalent) COVID-19 booster shot.

• Individuals are eligible for an updated booster at least 2 months after receiving their last dose, which could be:
  • The last of a primary series (second doses of the Pfizer, Moderna, or Novavax vaccine or single dose of the Johnson and Johnson vaccine)
  • One or more original (monovalent) booster dose
• Individuals ages 6 or older may get either authorized, updated booster.
• Individuals 5 years of age are eligible only for the updated Pfizer booster.

Fully vaccinated individuals ages 18 and older may instead choose to receive a Novavax booster shot at least 6 months after receiving the last dose of a primary series. Individuals who previously received a Pfizer or Moderna booster are not eligible for a Novavax booster.

Learn More

Want to learn more?

Find out how the City of Worcester is administering the COVID-19 vaccination.

Learn More - Vaccination Information

Guidance • Resources

Businesses & Restaurants • Learn More

Learn more about business continuity resources and small business assistance.

Individual Assistance • Help

Find assistance available to individuals including career continuity resources; how to file for unemployment; utility and pandemic unemployment assistance; evictions as well as how to cope with COVID-19.

COVID-19 Facts & Resources • Read More

The City of Worcester continues to work with and receive guidance from the CDC and the State of Massachusetts on how to treat possible cases and prevent the spread of COVID-19. We encourage you to check out the following information to learn more about COVID-19.

"Mask-Up Gallery"

Below is a collection of protected, masked photos from the "I Am Worcester" Photo Project. Click on a thumbnail below to view a larger image and a profile for each resident:

View Full "Mask-Up" Gallery

Communications from the City Manager

• Please visit Informing Worcester to view rescinded COVID-19 Executive Orders and Emergency Regulations.
• October 28, 2020 -Executive Order Extending Temporary Outdoor Dining
• April 22, 2020 - COVID-19 Data Sharing Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
• COVID-19 Health Equity Task Force

• Press Releases
• Facebook