City of Worcester, MA

COVID-19 Update for April 22; 1,445 Positive Cases

For Immediate Release: 4/22/2020 5:44 pm

• There are 1,445 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester (an increase of 206 positive cases from Tuesday, April 21). 
  
  
• Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 1,330 new cases (average of 63 new cases per day over the last 21 days).
  
  
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 143; Holden: 35, Grafton: 43; Leicester: 59; Millbury: 133  
  
  
• Note on the reporting of positive cases: The City's public health team received notice yesterday that there was a technical issue in the MAVEN system over the weekend. MAVEN is the statewide database used for communicable disease surveillance. Some cases entered into MAVEN were not being counted accurately unless two advanced reports were run. The epidemiologist at WDPH ran these reports and extracted cases that had been left out of the overall Worcester count. It is unclear at this time if today’s increase in cases (+206) is an effect of this issue over the weekend or a result of the surge. This situation is not unique to Worcester and has impacted cities and towns across the state, including the alliance communities.
  
  
• The Worcester Police Department has had 5 positive cases to date (2 of the positive members are quarantined and 3 have returned to work). There are two officers in self-quarantine awaiting test results.
  
  
• The Worcester Fire Department has had 6 positive cases to date. All six positive members have returned to work. One member is in self-quarantine due to exposure.
  
  
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 243 total COVID-positive in-patients today, which includes 88 total COVID-positive ICU patients. To date, their facilities have had 66 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 137 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
  
  
• The homeless shelter at the DCU Center has 58 positive homeless clients as of today. The field hospital site at the DCU Center had 25 patients (non-homeless) as of today.
  
  
• Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 64 positive cases are currently housed at the Beaumont facility (3 admissions today; 3 discharges today).
  
  
• As a follow up to a question asked at yesterday's briefing, drop off locations that are open and accepting sharps/needles are: Family Health Center - 26 Queen Street - 8 am-8 pm; AIDS Project Worcester - 85 Green Street - 9 am – 3 pm; Edward M. Kennedy Center - 19 Tacoma Street – 8:30 am -5 pm (See the nurse in the front); Shrewsbury Health Department - Only accepting sharps for Shrewsbury residents at this time.
  
  
• The City has fielded questions about the order to wear a face mask (recently ordered employees and patrons of retail, public-facing stores to wear them) and what constitutes a face covering. A face covering can include anything covering your nose and mouth (dust masks, scarves, bandanas). A homemade face covering is perfectly acceptable. The CDC advises the use of simple face cloth coverings to slow the spread of the virus. Face coverings/masks should be worn in situations when you cannot maintain proper social distancing of 6 feet. People should not use health care worker masks, such as N95s, which should be reserved for health care workers and other medical first responders.
  
  
• Today marks the 50th anniversary of Earth Day. On Earth Day, and every day, please be careful not to litter. Particularly during this crisis, don’t discard of gloves and masks on the ground. Be sure to properly dispose of them in trash receptacles. 

• Today the City Manager visited the City's Sewer Department. The department oversees 398 miles of sanitary sewers; 370 miles of surface sewers (storm drains for street runoff); 61 miles combined sewers (storm water & sewage); 28,000 manholes; 15,000 catch basins (capture rain runoff); 30 pump stations; Close to 40,000 residential/commercial/industrial connections to sanitary sewer system.
  
  
• To date, Worcester Together has raised almost $4.9 million and distributed grants totaling almost $750,000. Grants from $5,000 to $50,000 have been given out to dozens of organizations to meet immediate and long-term needs. To donate please visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
  
  
• Senior Center update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 4,449; Outreach phone calls: 182 calls made today; Number of meals delivered today: 1,072.
  
  
• 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 3,600 calls have been received; more than 820 calls have been connected to a live nurse.
  

• Today the City Manager honored another unsung hero within the City workforce, Susan DiTaranto, administrative assistant for the Worcester Division of Public Health. Sue has been with the City family for more than 22 years, holding various administrative and finance positions with the Department of Code Enforcement, Department of Health and Human Services and the Division of Public Health. During the pandemic response, Sue didn’t hesitate to fill the Finance Section Chief role as part of the Emergency Operation’s Center Incident Command. She has spent the last four weeks working around the clock to support EOC operations by closely tracking all expenditures associated with the COVID-19 response. Despite this new role for her, Sue has seamlessly become part of the team that provides critical support to ensure the EOC and the City have all the supplies and support services needed to keep City employees and some of the most vulnerable populations safe and healthy.