COVID-19 update for April 5; 333 positive cases
For Immediate Release:
4/5/2020 5:58 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for April 5:
- There are now 333 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 cases in the City of Worcester. All 333 individuals are being monitored by the Worcester Division of Public Health and are in isolation.
- Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 218 new cases (average of 54 new cases per day).
- The Worcester Police Department has 2 positive cases with seven members quarantined.
- The Worcester Fire Department has 6 positive cases. Four members are self-isolating and 2 have been cleared to return to duty. 25 members are in self-quarantine.
- All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 113 total COVID-positive in-patients and 32 total COVID-positive ICU patients today. To date, their facilities have had 14 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 66 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
- The City’s temporary homeless shelters (St. John’s, Ascension Church, North High School and Worcester Tech) had a total of 60 beds filled, with 15 available.
- There are 2 individuals at Worcester Tech: 1 who tested positive and 1 person under investigation.
- The City Manager toured the field medical site at the DCU Center this morning with Congressman James P. McGovern and Dr. Eric Dickson and Dr. Jonathan Broach from UMass. The facility is expected to be online as of Thursday.
- 3,500 masks were distributed to public safety today: WFD,WPD. Following new guidelines from the CDC, these are procedural/surgical masks that will be made available if officers/firefighters want to wear them.
- The City Manager also recognized the work of Pat Bruchmann, Chief of Nursing at WDPH, who has been with the City for more than 18 years. Pat has been leading the nursing response to COVID-19 with two other public health nurses, Amelia Houghton and Sandra Early. As a regional health department, Pat and her team are in contact with more than 400 COVID-19 positive cases in Worcester, Grafton, Leicester, Holden and Shrewsbury.
- The City of Worcester continues to look for volunteers to staff the temporary homeless shelters. If you are willing to work as part of a team to keep the most vulnerable safe, please email volunteer@worcesterma.gov.
- The Worcester Together Fund, a joint effort of the City of Worcester, Greater Worcester Community Foundation and United Way of Central Massachusetts, has to date raised $3.7 million. To donate visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text “worcestercovid19” to 243725. Checks can also be mailed to: Greater Worcester Community Foundation, COVID-19 Response Fund, 370 Main St #650, Worcester, MA 01608.
- Worcester Together has announced funding for the following organizations:
- Advocates
- Boys & Girls Club
- Building Futures, Inc.
- Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
- Family Health Center of Worcester
- Genesis Club House
- Harrington Healthcare System
- Open Sky Community Services
- The Casa Project
- Youth Opportunities Upheld
- Heywood Hospital
- Mission E4
- Montachusett Opportunity Council, Inc.
- Catholic Charities
- Friendly House
- Rachel’s Table
- Southeast Asian Coalition
- Pernet Family Services
- Project New Hope
- Regional Environmental Council
- Dismas House
- YWCA of Central Mass.
- Mass 2-1-1 ($20,000)Living in Freedom Together
- Net of Compassion
- 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.
