For Immediate Release: 6/25/2021 4:36 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for June 25:
• There are 23,864 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. This is an increase of 17 cases from last week. This represents 13 fewer new cases than last week, when the total was 23,847.
• Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,970 (+1 from last week); Holden: 1,474 (no change from last week); Grafton: 1,190 (no change from last week)
• All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 6 total COVID-positive in-patients (-4 from last week) and 2 total COVID-positive ICU patients (-3 from last week). To date, their facilities have had a total of 745 COVID-related deaths (+2 from last week).
• For the week of June 19, .34 percent of the nasal swab tests for COVID-19, the most popular test to detect the presence of the virus, were positive in Worcester. That represents a decrease from the week of June 12, when .53 percent of the tests were positive. At the height of the pandemic, during the week of April 11, 2020, 28.74 were positive.
• To date, there have been 429 deaths of Worcester residents from COVID-19 (an increase of 2 from last week)
• According to the state Department of Public Health, a combined total of 202,489 doses (+4,639 from last week) have been administered for Worcester. A total of 92,774 (48 percent of the population) have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated. A total of 109,715 (57 percent) have received their first dose.
• As of Thursday, June 17 a total of 18,331 vaccination doses had been administered through the City’s Mobile Vaccination Clinics to 11,372 individuals. Of those vaccinations, 8,364 first doses, 6,959 second doses and 3,008 single-dose Johnson & Johnson vaccines have been administered.
• On the heels of a visit from the Vax Express, the City of Worcester will welcome the “VaxBus” Wednesday, July 1 and Thursday, July 2. The #TrustTheFacts mobile vaccination unit is a retrofitted bus operated by Boston-based Yankee Line. Shots will be administered by Purple Shield as part of a collaboration with the state Department of Public Health. The bus features six vaccination stations. Observation tents will be set up outside the bus to monitor patients after they receive their shot. The mobile units will administer Pfizer and Johnson & Johnson vaccines. Walk-ins are welcome, and no appointment, ID or health insurance is needed. The VaxBus will return for second doses of Pfizer July 22-23.
LOCATION DAY TIME
• A reminder that the Vax Express will return to Union Station Thursday, July 8 to administer second doses of the Pfizer vaccine as well as single doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. 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 Mobile Vaccination Clinics in Worcester:
• The vaccination clinics at Gala Supermarket and La Plaza Supermarket will be distributing 50 gift certificates ($50 each) at each location for those who get vaccinated, courtesy of the United Way of Central Massachusetts. Be sure to come out and get vaccinated!
• 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 or www.worcesterma.gov/coronavirus/vaccination.
• 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 City of Worcester will hold a press conference Thursday, July 1, 1 p.m. highlighting the emergence of the COVID-19 Delta variant. A location will be announced soon. The Delta variant has been steadily spreading in the U.S. In Massachusetts, the variant accounts for about 10 percent of all new cases. The Delta variant is more easily spread than other strains, according to the CDC, and can be much more dangerous. As overall cases continue to drop, health officials remind residents to remain vigilant and guard against the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It remains critically important to get vaccinated if you have not already, as studies have shown fully vaccination is highly effective against the Delta variant. Unvaccinated and partially-vaccinated individuals are more susceptible to contracting the COVID-19 virus.
• A reminder that 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 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 28, 11 a.m. to 3 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.
• A reminder that the VaxMillions Giveaway lottery, an effort to encourage residents to get vaccinated, starts July 1 and runs through Aug. 29. The lottery 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. For more information, visit www.mass.gov/VaxMillions. Fully-vaccinated individuals may also sign up at one of the VaxBus locations in Worcester next week (see schedule above).
• 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.
• Starting next month, the City’s COVID-19 Press Update will be released on a monthly basis, on the last Friday of the month. The next update will be released Friday, July 30. Should any additional pertinent information or updates need to be shared in the interim, the City will address as necessary.
