COVID-19 Update for April 17; 1,067 Positive Cases
For Immediate Release:
4/17/2020 6:35 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for April 16:
- There are now 1,067 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester.
- Positive cases for surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 105, Grafton: 40, Holden: 29, Leicester: 19
- Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 952 new cases (average of 60 new cases per day).
- All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 192 total COVID-positive in-patients and 81 total COVID-positive ICU patients today. To date, their facilities have had 45 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 115 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
- As of today, the field hospital at the DCU Center had 9 patients.
- Approximately 80 individuals were tested at the SMOC homeless shelter yesterday, resulting in 47 positive results among clients and four positive results among staff.
- With the homeless shelter at Worcester Technical High School near capacity, the City will begin sheltering COVID-positive homeless individuals at the DCU Center, where the available capacity as a field hospital has not been used to date. These positive homeless individuals will be separated from the positive medical patients which have already been coming to the facility.
- An outbreak of COVID-19 was reported today at St. Mary Healthcare Center. Total patients positive: 33; Total staff positive: 18; Total positive overall: 51; Results pending: 88; Negative Results: 78.
- Effective immediately, the City Manager has issued an order requiring all customers wear a face covering while inside public-facing retail establishments (including, but not limited to: grocery stores, pharmacies, convenience stores, home improvement stores, restaurants, and farmers markets). The face covering must cover the person’s mouth and nose. Anyone entering a restaurant to pick up food for takeout must wear a face covering over their mouth and nose. Any operator/employer of a retail business providing essential services may deny entry to the business if a customer is not wearing a face covering over their mouth and nose. The face covering may include, but is not limited to, dusk masks, scarves, bandanas or other coverings so long as the wearer’s mouth and nose are covered.
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Worcester Historical Museum is working with Worcester Polytechnic Institute to collect and preserve the stories and experiences that Worcester and area residents are going through. To participate, visit: WorcesterHistory.org. Residents and business owners are invited to share their videos and pictures for future generations. In the coming months, the museum is encouraging residents to hang onto documents, photos, and/or objects they may wish to donate in the future. For questions, email: WorcesterCovid19@WorcesterHistory.net.
- To date, Worcester Together has raised more than $4.3 million and distributed 51 grants totaling $616,000. National Grid has doubled their initial donation and has given another $25,000. Today Good Chemistry announced a $50,000 donation and has also donated 160 N95 masks to the City. On Monday, Principal Luke Robert from the May Street School started organizing a fundraising campaign for the Worcester Public Schools. As of 3 p.m. today the Worcester Public Schools staff and administration have raised almost $17,000, an increase of $2,000 in one day. To donate visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
- Today the City Manager recognized another unsung hero within the City workforce, Amy Vogel Waters, Director, Worcester Senior Center. Her commitment to elder affairs spans 30 plus years, including many years as a member of the Mass. Councils on Aging (MCOA) board of directors. Amy manages the Senior Center which serves 15,000 seniors a year. Under her leadership, the Senior Center has grown to be the foremost local resource for our steadily growing senior population. During COVID-19, although the Senior Center has closed temporarily, there are many things being done to keep seniors connected such as wellness check phone calls, Elder Services of Worcester Area providing Meals on Wheels, online programming and keeping seniors aware of all relative information.
- Senior Center update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 4,041; Outreach phone calls made today: 199; Number of meals delivered to seniors in Worcester today: 1,082.
- The City of Worcester COVID-19 information line can be reached at 508-799-1019. This service is available in multiple languages. Individuals can speak live with a nurse, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
