For Immediate Release: 2/4/2021 4:20 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update:
To date, there have been 19,321 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester. That is an increase of 492 cases since the City’s last COVID update on Thursday, Jan. 28.
There were 71 new cases today.
This week marked the third consecutive week of a decline in the number of new cases.
Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,321 (increase of 77); Holden: 1,165 (increase of 66); Grafton: 911 (increase of 29)
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital have a combined total of 288 COVID-positive in-patients (decrease of 20) and 44 total COVID- positive ICU patients (decrease of 4). To date, the combined facilities have had 622 COVID-related deaths (increase of 26). A total of 1,693 employees have tested positive for the virus (increase of 27). All changes are from last week’s report.
There have been 382 deaths of Worcester residents, an increase of 15 since last week.
There are 39 positive in-patients at the DCU Field Hospital as of today.
As of today, there are 6 active COVID-19 cases among City Employees that are isolating and 4 in quarantine.
To date, the City has administered 3,124 vaccinations, including 2,709 at the Senior Center and 445 mobile vaccinations at congregate settings, including homeless shelters.
The City has inoculated 337 police (77.4% of 435 total personnel), 310 firefighters (78.4%) and 37 Communications personnel (67.3%). In total, that represents 75.4% of the 883 employees in those departments.
Today, Mayor Joseph M. Petty and City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., joined by partners from St. Vincent Hospital, UMass Medical School, Commonwealth Medicine and Worcester State University, announced a Mass Vaccination Site will be launched at WSU on Tuesday, Feb. 16. The facility will be open 5 days a week, Tuesday-Saturday, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Vaccinations will be available to people throughout the Commonwealth who are eligible under state guidelines, per Gov. Baker’s phased vaccination rollout. The Mayor and City Manager wish to thank all those involved in the planning and operation process, including Barry Maloney, president of WSU, Carolyn Jackson, CEO of St. Vincent Hospital, and Lisa Colombo, Executive Vice President of Commonwealth Medicine.
The City urges residents and businesses to remain vigilant even as the number of COVID cases continues to decline, particularly with Super Bowl Weekend almost upon us. People are reminded not to host large indoor gathering with folks outside their immediate household, and bars and restaurants are reminded they must continue to follow state COVID mandates and protocols. The City will have enforcement teams out all weekend to ensure compliance at restaurants and guard against violations.
As the vaccination phases progress, the City remains committed to sharing as much information as possible as soon as it is available. To that end, City Officials have continued to host weekly press briefings. The City has also taken part in several media town halls, and thanks members of the local media, including the La Mega, WCRN and WTAG radio stations, as well as the Telegram & Gazette and MassLive for hosting those forums. In addition, health officials and the City’s Department of Health & Human Services have taken part in a number of forums. Upcoming virtual events will be held with the African Clergy on Sunday, Feb. 7; YOU Inc. on Tuesday, Feb. 9; and the Latino Education Institute and Ascentria on Wednesday, Feb. 10. For more information on those events, please call 508-799-8486, ext. 31324, or email Domenica Perrone at PerroneD@worcetserma.gov.
