For Immediate Release: 6/20/2021 10:58 am
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for June 11:
• There are 23,847 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. This is an increase of 30 cases from last week. This represents less than half the number of new cases last week, when the total was 23,817.
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,969 (-1 from last week, with 1 case removed); Holden: 1,474 (no change from last week); Grafton: 1,190 (+2 from last week)
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 10 total COVID-positive in-patients (-2 from last week) and 5 total COVID-positive ICU patients (-1 from last week). To date, their facilities have had a total of 743 COVID-related deaths (+1 from last week).
• To date, there have been 427 deaths of Worcester residents from COVID-19 (no change from last week)
• According to the state Department of Public Health, a combined total of 197,850 doses (+5,783 from last week) have been administered for Worcester. A total of 89,857 (roughly 49 percent of the population) have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated. A total of 107,993 (about 58 percent) have received their first dose.
• As of Thursday, June 17 a total of 17,935 vaccination doses had been administered through the City’s Mobile Vaccination Clinics to 11,330 individuals. Of those vaccinations, 8,325 first doses, 6,605 second doses and 3,005 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been administered.
• All Worcester residents are strongly encouraged to get vaccinated. There are many options, including walk-in clinics, pharmacies and personal physicians. Understanding the hesitancy many individuals may have, City health officials encourage people to visit www.mass.gov/info-details/trust-the-facts-get-the-vax.com or www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/vaccination.
• The Vax Express, a mobile COVID vaccination train, pulled into Union Station on Thursday, June 17 to administer doses of the Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. A total of 49 doses were administered. Grocery store gift cards were distributed with each vaccination. The Vax Train will return in three weeks, on Thursday, July 8 to offer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as single J&J doses. Individuals receiving a first dose at the second-dose clinic will need to receive their second dose at a different location. Walk-ins are welcome, or appointments can be made at www.cic-health.com/vaxexpress. The Vax Express is a partnership between the state, MBTA, Keolis Commuter Services, CIC Health and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.
• Below, see a complete list of upcoming clinics in Worcester:
Latin American Motorcycle Association, 444 Franklin St.
Saturday 6/19 11AM-1PM
Unity in the Community, Worcester Common Saturday 6/19 11AM-2PM
Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square Wednesday 6/23 5:30-7:30PM
Main South Business Association, Fuller Family Park, 104 Murray Ave. Friday 6/25 2-6PM
Worcester Youth Center, 326 Chandler St. Saturday 6/26 11AM-3PM
Refugee Day Celebration, Church of Latter Day Saints, 67 Chester St. Saturday 6/26 3PM-6PM
Aldersgate Church, 1048 Main St. Sunday 6/27 9AM-1PM
Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square Wednesday 6/30 5:30-7:30PM
Day of Hope, Living Word Church, 30 Tyler Prentice Road Saturday 7/24 11AM-3PM
Dogfather Food Truck Festival, Beaver Brook Park Saturday 7/31 11AM-1PM
Piedmont Neighborhood Block Party, 93 Piedmont St. Saturday 7/31 1PM-3PM
• Find more information about the COVID-19 virus, and the City’s vaccination efforts, including the latest Mobile Vaccination Clinics, visit www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/vaccination.
• The vaccination site at Mercantile Center, which is run by UMass Memorial Health Care, will shut down Friday, July 2, but will continue administering first and second doses of the Pfizer vaccine until then. The Center has administered 32,000 vaccinations to date. Please note the Center will be closed Monday, June 21. Any appointments scheduled for that day have been rescheduled. The site is open daily, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and no appointment is necessary. Walk-ins are accepted until 5:45 p.m. Discounted parking is available in the Mercantile Center Garage.
• Free, walk-in COVID-19 testing offered by UMass Memorial Health Care will be available Monday, June 21, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and Thursday, June 24, 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., at Mercantile Center, 201 Commercial St., Worcester (intersection of Commercial and Mechanic streets). No appointment is required. For more locations around the state, visit www.mass.gov./info-details/stop-the-spread. The state has extended free Stop the Spread testing through Sept. 30.
• Health officials remain concerned with the spread of the Delta strain of the COVID-19 virus, which has become the dominant strain in some countries. It currently accounts for about 10 percent of all new cases in the U.S. Individuals are highly encouraged to get vaccinated or continue practicing the “Three W’s” – wear a mask, watch your distance and wash your hands – to guard against the highly-transmissible strain.
• In an effort to encourage residents to get vaccinated, the state of Massachusetts has announced the VaxMillions Giveaway lottery, which will award five cash prizes of $1 million to people 18 years of age and older. Residents between 12-17 years of age can enter to win one of five $300,000 scholarship grants. Residents must be fully vaccinated to be eligible. Drawings will start July 1 and continue until Aug. 29. According to Gov. Charlie Baker, funding for the lottery will come from the American Rescue Act. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/VaxMillions.
• The Massachusetts Homebound Vaccination Program is available to any individual who faces difficulty getting to a vaccine site. Individuals can call 833-983-0485 to register for an in-home vaccination. The registration line is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is staffed by representatives who speak English and Spanish. Translation services are available in more than 100 languages.
• For the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 and vaccine efforts in Massachusetts, please visit www.mass.gov/2019coronavirus and www.mass.gov/vaccine.
