City of Worcester, MA

COVID-19 Update for March 30; 101 Positive Cases

For Immediate Release: 3/30/2020 5:51 pm

• There are 15 new confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. There are now 101 overall confirmed positive cases in Worcester. All 101 individuals are being monitored by the Worcester Division of Public Health and are in isolation.
  
  
• Today the City Manager visited the Worcester Fire Department heaquarters on Grove Street to get a firsthand look all the COVID-19 safety protocols currently in place, including the cleaning/sanitation of all fire vehicles.
  
  
• In accordance with The Families First Coronavirus Response Act, the City will provide employees with paid sick leave or expanded family and medical leave for specified reasons related to COVID-19.
  
  
• The City will provide eligible employees with the following: Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at the employee’s regular rate of pay where the employee is unable to work because the employee is quarantined, and/or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms and seeking a diagnosis. Two weeks (up to 80 hours) of paid sick leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay because the employee is unable to work because of a bona fide need to care for an individual subject to quarantine.
  
  
• In addition, the City’s FMLA is amended, temporarily, for eligible employees that have been employed with the City for at least 30 days, to include the following: Up to an additional 10 weeks of paid expanded family and medical leave at two-thirds the employee’s regular rate of pay where an employee is unable to work due to a bona fide need for leave to care for a child whose school or child care provider is closed or unavailable for reasons related to COVID-19.
  
  
• Homeless shelter census numbers – as of today; North High School: 22; St. John’s: 20; Ascension: 19; Worcester Tech: 2 (persons under investigation); Total in shelters: 63.

• Residents are reminded to stay off playground equipment and continue practicing appropriate social distancing. Parks are still open but group sports should be avoided (basketball, etc.). The City has increased signage and enforcement. Playground and basketball court facilities have been locked where possible. The Parks Department is also blocking access to playground equipment and basketball hoops.
  
  
• Worcester Together, a partnership between the City of Worcester, the Greater Worcester Community Foundation and United Way of Central Massachusetts, continues to raise money for efforts dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. Today, Working for Worcester announced a donation of $23,000. The fund has, to date, raised $2.5 million. To donate visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text “worcestercovid19” to 243725.
  
  
• Recreation Worcester has announced the launch of RecWoo Online. Every week, programming leads will provide three 20-minute videos featuring activities for children and families to follow along from their homes. The videos will focus on Arts, Academics and Athletics, the main components of Recreation Worcester programming. In addition to videos, Rec Worcester is also preparing a set of challenges for youth and families to do every day of the week. Challenges will include drawing contests, energizers, science projects and more.
  
  
• Youth and families are asked to send photos and videos of anything they create or challenges they complete at home and they will be shared on social media. Anyone interested in submitting photos or videos should message the City of Worcester Division of Youth Opportunities on their Facebook and Instagram pages, or send them via text to 774-366-5103.
  
  
• Teachers from Claremont Academy have organized a “parade” for their students. They will be driving through the neighborhood around the school tomorrow at 10:15 a.m. to greet students from their vehicles.
  
  
• Senior Center Update: Number of Seniors contacted to date: 1,443; Outreach Phone Calls: 159 calls made today; Number of meals delivered in Worcester today: 846.
  
  
• The City of Worcester COVID-19 information line can be reached at 508-799-1019. This service is available in multiple languages. Individuals can speak live with a nurse, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The line has received more than 2,200 calls with more than 330 connected to a live nurse.