City of Worcester, MA

COVID-19 Update for April 21; 1,239 Positive Cases

For Immediate Release: 4/21/2020 5:14 pm

• There are 1,239 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester (an increase of 40 positive cases from Monday, April 20). 
  
  
• Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 1,124 new cases (average of 56 new cases per day over the last 19 days).
  
  
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 107; Holden: 31, Grafton: 41; Leicester: 21  
  
  
• The Worcester Police Department has had 5 positive cases to date (3 of the positive members are quarantined and 2 have returned to work). There is one officer in self-quarantine awaiting a test result.
  
  
• The Worcester Fire Department has had 6 positive cases to date. All six positive members have returned to work. Two members are in self-quarantine due to exposure.
  
  
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 240 total COVID-positive in-patients today, which includes 86 total COVID-positive ICU patients. To date, their facilities have had 62 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 130 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
  
  
• The homeless shelter at the DCU Center has 52 positive homeless clients as of today. The field hospital site at the DCU Center had 18 patients (non-homeless) as of today.
  
  
• The emergency shelter located at St. John’s will close this afternoon. There are 12 active volunteers at St. John’s, who will now be reassigned to the North High School, Ascension Church and DCU shelters as needed and to perform specific tasks at those sites.
  
  
• All clients at the "healthy" homeless shelters have tested negative for COVID and will be transferred to North High School and Ascension before the end of the day today. The Department of Health & Human Services has been working to find permanent housing options for clients at all sites. To date, four clients have been permanently housed, with several others expected to be housed in the near future. Wrap-around services, such as treatment and case management are also being coordinated for clients with specific needs.
  
  
• Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 64 positive cases are currently housed at the Beaumont facility (5 admissions today; 2 discharges today).
  
  
• Today the National Guard conducted testing at the Worcester Health Center at 250 Oriol Drive.
  
  
• Governor Baker has announced that all public and private schools will remain closed for the remainder of the school year. Online learning will continue until the final day of school on June 12.
  
  
• The Worcester Regional Transit Authority (WRTA) is being awarded Federal Transit Administration (FTA) funds through the CARES Act. The WRTA successfully completed their grant application and is now being awarded $5,000,000 to continue to provide service at levels necessary for the ridership served while also allowing the WRTA to respond to the new needs of post COVID-19 transit operations.
  
  

• Non-traditional employee unemployment filing begins today in Massachusetts under the CARES Act. Self-employed individuals, contract workers, and other gig workers will have access to begin filing for unemployment benefits. This includes self-employed workers, independent contractors, gig economy workers, and those with a limited work history. Learn more and apply at mass.gov/pua.

• Today the City Manager visited the City's Technical Services Department at Worcester Technical High School, which supports technical services for police, fire and city departments in roughly 40 buildings. A department of 31 current employees do great work all year round, but have been especially helpful during COVID-19. Right now the department is serving more than 600 remote users and is working to ensure that all regular functions continue during this unprecedented situation (payroll processing, call answering, etc.).
  
  
• To date, Worcester Together has raised almost $4.9 million and has distributed grants totaling almost $700,000. These funds have been going to everything from securing PPEs and masks for frontline workers to addressing long term needs like the building of a walk-in cooler at the South Worcester Neighborhood Center food pantry. To donate please visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
  
  

• Senior Center update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 4,267; Outreach phone calls: 226 calls made today; Number of meals delivered today: 1,508.

• 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. More than 3,500 calls have been received; more than 800 calls have been connected to a live nurse.
  

• Today the City Manager honored another group of unsung heroes within the City workforce, the Quality of Life Task Force (Dan Cahill, Inspectional Services; Michael Girardi, DPW; Evis Terpollari, HHS). From its inception in September 2015, the QOL Task Force, assigned to the City Manager's Office, has served as a team of specialists working to provide direct services to constituents and business owners on issues that affect the quality of life throughout the City (illegal dumping, problem properties, nuisance complaints and homelessness). On any given day they can be seen out and about, visiting with the homeless and checking on new encampments to provide outreach. To date, they have successfully housed 117 individuals. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the QOL team has been out daily, assisting with notification of those who have tested positive and getting them into appropriate care.