For Immediate Release: 3/25/2021 4:13 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update:
To date, there have been 21,700 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester. That is an increase of 351 cases since the City’s last COVID update on Thursday, March 18.
There were 60 new cases today.
Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 2,711 (increase of 58); Holden: 1,339 (increase of 16); Grafton: 1,067 (increase of 17).
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital have a combined total of 51 COVID-positive in-patients (increase of 1) and 17 total COVID-positive ICU patients (increase of 3). To date, the combined facilities have had 704 COVID-related deaths (increase of 9). A total of 1,746 employees have tested positive for the virus (no change from last week). All changes are from previous week’s report.
There have been 414 deaths of Worcester residents.
As of Wednesday, March 24, the City’s Division of Public Health reported that 40,992 total Worcester residents, or roughly 22 percent of the City’s population, had received at least their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. A total of 22,800 residents have received their second dose and are fully vaccinated.
Of the roughly 25,187 seniors 65 years of age and older in Worcester, 16,435 (65 percent) have received at least their first dose; 9,516 (38 percent) have been fully vaccinated.
Between the Emergency Dispensing Site at the Worcester Senior Center and the Mobile Clinics, 13,972 doses have been administered.
A total of 3,921 doses have been administered via Mobile Vaccinations as of Wednesday, March 24. Mobile Vaccinations today were scheduled at the Worcester Housing Authority’s Webster Square West Tower, 1050 Main St., and the New England Ghanaian Seventh-day Adventists Church. The latter site was being served as part of the State’s Vaccine Equity Initiative.
To date, the City has administered 1,642 Equity Doses through that initiative, which targets the hardest-hit neighborhoods and most under-represented populations in 20 Massachusetts Cities and Towns, including Worcester.
Upcoming Mobile Vaccination Clinics include:
Monday, March 29: Worcester Housing Authority, Elm Park Towers
Wednesday, March 31: St. John’s Pantry, Worcester Housing Authority in Holden, Worcester Senior Center (Equity Clinic)
A total of 27,308 doses have been administered through the Regional Vaccination Site at Worcester State University.
Gov. Charlie Baker this week announced a Homebound Vaccination Program, which starts Monday, March 29, to provide in-home vaccinations to homebound individuals who cannot leave their home to reach a COVID-19 vaccine appointment. In-home vaccinations will be available to homebound individuals who:
• Have considerable difficulty and/or require significant support to leave the home for medical appointments
• Require an ambulance or two-person assistance to leave the home
• Are not able to leave home for medical appointments under normal circumstances.
Health care providers, Aging Services Access Points (ASAP), Local Boards of Health, Councils on Aging (COAs) and other community organizations will be connecting individuals to the homebound program. In addition, homebound individuals and their loved ones can call 1-833-983-0485 to schedule an appointment and determine if they meet eligibility for in-home vaccination. The registration phone line is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and has representatives who speak English and Spanish, as well as translation services available in 100-plus languages.
The City of Worcester reminds residents that they can continue to be tested for the COVID-19 virus for free through the State’s Stop the Spread program. UMass Memorial Healthcare runs testing at Mercantile Center, 201 Commercial St. Below is next week’s schedule:
• Monday, March 29, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Tuesday, March 30, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
• Thursday, April 1, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
