COVID-19 Update for April 23; 1,542 Positive Cases
For Immediate Release:
4/23/2020 5:27 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for April 23:
- There are 1,542 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester (an increase of 97 positive cases from Wednesday, April 22).
- Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 1,427 new cases (average of 65 new cases per day in the month of April).
- Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 150; Holden: 37, Grafton: 44; Leicester: 61; Millbury: 136
- There are no updates from yesterday on cases within the Worcester Police Department and Worcester Fire Department. 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 238 total COVID-positive in-patients today, which includes 88 total COVID-positive ICU patients. To date, their facilities have had 70 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 143 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
- The homeless shelter at the DCU Center has 53 positive homeless clients as of today. The field hospital site at the DCU Center had 24 patients (non-homeless) as of today.
- Homeless shelters housing: To date, housing has been secured for a total of 9 clients within the city's emergency homeless shelters. One client from St. John's was reunited with his grandmother; three clients from Ascension have been moved to the Hector Reyes House for recovery programming; two clients from North High have secured an apartment; two clients from Ascension have been moved to Fiendly House/Elm Street shelter; and one client from Ascension has secured a two-bedroom apartment.
- Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 65 positive cases are currently housed at the Beaumont facility (5 admissions today; 3 discharges today).
- The National Guard conducted testing of residents and staff today at the Jewish Health Care Center and St. Mary's Health Care Center.
- The City has signed a memorandum of understanding with UMass Memorial Health Care to share data focusing on health disparities in communities of color. The City will be working with UMass on the creation of a community task force that will address what that data illustrates.
- To date, Worcester Together has raised more than $5 million in just five weeks and has distributed grants totaling almost $850,000. Approximately $1,000 has been raised for the Fund in the last 24 hours thanks to the FaceMask Challenge announced yesterday by Mayor Petty. To donate please visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
- Senior Center update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 4,634; Outreach phone calls: 185 calls made today; Number of meals delivered today: 990.
- 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 840 calls have been connected to a live nurse.
- Today the City Manager honored another group of unsung heroes within the City workforce, all of the custodians/janitors/security guards that have gone above and beyond during this crisis to keep all City buildings clean and safe. These individuals work behind the scenes with very little public recognition of the important jobs they do across all City facilities. These jobs are necessary and vital to keep City buildings up and running everyday, especially during a public health crisis when there are additional needs for cleaning and building access. City Hall: Mike Powell and Kaseem Hargrove (Security); Library: Edivaldo Deolivera, Daniel Malloy, Pedro Rodas-Lagos, German Salas, Jose Santiago, Edward Potter, and Joel Wentworth; 25 Meade Street (WDPH/Inspectional Services): Reynaldo Navarro; Senior Center: Michael Vary; WPD: Dan Friend; WFD: Mike Caricchio.
