For Immediate Release: 1/21/2021 6:28 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update:
To date, there have been 18,014 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester. That is an increase of 885 cases since the City’s last COVID update on Thursday, Jan. 14.
There were 138 new cases today.
Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,149 (increase of 141); Holden: 1,032 (increase of 67); Grafton: 817 (increase of 115); Leicester: 736 (increase of 36).
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital, as of Thursday, Jan. 21, have a combined total of 246 COVID-positive in-patients (increase of 2) and 46 total COVID- positive ICU patients (decrease of 14). To date, the combined facilities have had 566 COVID-related deaths (increase of 24). A total of 1,622 employees have tested positive for the virus (increase of 69). All changes are from last week’s report.
There have been 359 deaths of Worcester residents, an increase of 6 since last week.
There were 51 positive in-patients at the DCU Field Hospital as of today.
As of today, there are 20 active COVID-19 cases among City Employees that are isolating and 7 in quarantine.
CASES BY AGE
19-under: 2,559 (14%)
20-29: 3,308 (18%)
30-39: 3,045 (17%)
40-49: 2,602 (15%)
50-59: 2,589 (14%)
60-69: 1,820 (10%)
70-up: 1,970 (11%)
Over the past two weeks, the Division of Public Health administered 1,318 total vaccinations at the Emergency Distribution Site at the Senior Center. The City inoculated 307 Worcester Police (70.6% of personnel), 297 firefighters (75.2% of personnel) and 35 Communications personnel (66% of total staff). That represents 72% of the 883 employees in those departments.
As the state opened up the entirety of Phase 1 of its three-phase vaccination plan, the City will start vaccinating non-COVID-facing health care workers, home health care personnel and others. This week, the City began administering vaccination to the homeless population. On Tuesday, 98 total vaccinations were administered at various locations, including Ascension Church (Hotel Grace), the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, Jana’s Place, St. John’s Food Pantry, Dismas House, Abby’s House and Hector Reyes. Today, 60 vaccinations were administered at the 25 Queen St. shelter.
To determine which category of vaccinations you fall into, and which phase you are eligible, please visit www.mass.gov. You may also visit www.worcesterma.gov for more information.
The City on Monday will reopen City Hall and other municipal buildings by appointment only, including Worcester Public Library, DPW&P offices, and 25 Meade St., which houses Inspectional Services, the Worcester Division of Public Health and Fire Prevention. City Hall will be open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m., by appointment only. The Worcester Senior Center remains closed to the public, and is currently being used as an Emergency Dispensing Site for vaccination of Phase 1 priority groups. Folks are encouraged to utilize online services whenever possible by visiting www.worcesterma.gov.
City officials and medical personnel will be holding media Town Halls in the coming weeks, including Friday on La Mega radio, 106.1 FM and 1310 AM. On Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 1 p.m. City Manager Edward M. Augustus Jr., Dr. Michael P. Hirsh and Dr. Matilde Castiel will participate in a Facebook Live Q&A hosted by the Telegram & Gazette at the Mercantile Center.
It was learned this week that a Worcester County resident has tested positive for the new UK COVID strain after traveling during the holidays. To date, the CDC has reported 88 cases from 14 U.S. states involving the UK variant.
The UMass Memorial Health Care COVID-19 Equity Task Force and the City of Worcester jointly sponsor free, walk-up COVID-19 testing. Below are upcoming dates for testing. All testing is held indoors at Mercantile Center, 201 Commercial St.
Monday, Jan. 25, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 26, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 28, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
