City of Worcester, MA

COVID-19 Update for April 28; 1,910 Positive Cases

For Immediate Release: 4/28/2020 5:10 pm

• There are 1,910 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. This is an increase of 106 cases from Monday, April 27.
  
  
• Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 1,797 new cases (average of 64 new cases per day).
  
  
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 161; Holden: 40; Grafton: 48; Leicester: 80; Millbury: 144
  
  
• There are 5 positive cases to date in the Worcester Police Department and 6 positive cases to date in the Worcester Fire Department. A total of 5 WPD officers are out (2 positive cases are quarantined; 3 other officers are self-quarantined). No Worcester firefighters are out.
  
  
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 266 total COVID-positive in-patients and 103 total COVID-positive ICU patients today. To date, their facilities have had 95 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 160 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
  
  
• The homeless shelter at the DCU Center has 35 positive clients today. Eight cleints were discharged yesterday and brought to the SMOC MLK site. The DCU had 17 non-homeless medical patients today.
  
  
• Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 67 positive patients are currently at the Beaumont facility (2 admissions today; 7 discharges today). To date, 110 patients have been treated at Beaumont.
  
  
• National Guard testing: The Massachusetts National Guard is doing COVID-19 testing of residents and staff today at the Knolwood Nursing Center and West Side House LTC.
  
  
• Governor Baker announced earlier today that he is extending the state's Stay-at-Home-Advisory to May 18. The City continues to ask all residentsto respect the order, maintain social distancing and practice good hygiene.
   
• The Worcester Together Fund has raised more than $5.3 million in five weeks, distributing almost $850,000 in grants to area agencies and organizations. City of Worcester employees have raised more than $2,030 in less than 24 hours. The FaceMask Challenge has raised $6,600. To donate to the fund, visit worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
  
  
• Senior update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 5,135; Number of outreach calls made today: 133; Number of meals delivered today: 1,444.
  
  
• 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. The line has received more than 3,800 calls with 920 connected to a live nurse. 
  
  
• Today, the City Manager honored two more unsung heroes within the City workforce: Dori Vecchio and Effy Larkin in the Human Resources Department. The Director of Human Resources, Dori has been with the City for more than 22 years. Before joining HR eight years ago, Dori was the Director of Administration and Operations in the City Manager’s Office.. She also previously worked for the Worcester Redevelopment Authority and the Parks Dep. Dori has been a true utility player in the EOC offering her management skills/oversight on several tasks including: Supply Procurement Policy, Volunteer Management and Recruitment and most importantly the establishment of the policies and protocols associated with City employees who test positive for COVID-19. Dori is an asset to the entire EOC operation, offering her support and positive insight to her colleagues. She is a graduate of Worcester State University and holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from Clark University. Effy is a Principal Staff Assistant and has been with the City for 13 years. She has been promoted twice in the last eight years due to her dedication, commitment and her ability to solve complex problems, develop strong relationships and her ability to be a team leader. Effy currently manages unemployment, the payment of Workers Compensation and assists in citywide investigations, labor relations issues, training employees in several City departments on the new hiring process. She is currently enrolled in the Clark University Masters in Public Administration Leadership program and is expected to graduate next year with her Master’s in Public Administration. For Emergency Operations, Effy continues to do her HR job remotely but assists in the purchasing process. She encumbers purchase orders, searches for vendors, tracks orders and works with the EOC team to determine funding sources and the need for supplies.  She does all this while homeschooling her two young daughters.