COVID-19 Update For May 11; 2,971 Positive Cases
For Immediate Release:
5/11/2020 5:07 pm
The City of Worcester has released the following COVID-19 update for May 11:
- There are 2,971 confirmed positive cases of COVID-19 in the City of Worcester. This is an increase of 47 cases from Sunday, May 10.
- Since April 1, Worcester has seen an increase of 2,789 new cases (average of 68 new cases per day).
- Positive case counts in surrounding towns: Shrewsbury: 229; Holden: 64; Grafton: 67; Leicester: 110; Millbury: 182
- All combined medical facilities of Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care had 269 total COVID-positive in-patients and 102 total COVID-positive ICU patients today. To date, their facilities have had 175 total COVID-related deaths. A total of 247 of their employees have tested positive for the virus.
- The field hospital site at the DCU Center has 15 patients today.
- Beaumont Rehabilitation census: 67 positive inpatients (2 admissions, 4 discharges); Total treated: 149 (80 beds available).
- Today, Governor Baker announced a four-phase reopening plan: the Start phase, the Cautious phase, the Vigilant phase and the New Normal phase. The Governor said that the reopening of the state's economy will be gradual and dependent on facts on the ground and data. As these phases are implemented, the Governor will be releasing overall social guidance for employers, mandatory workplace safety standards and industry specific regulations.
- Isolation and Recovery Site: As of today, the state has setup an isolation and recovery site in Worcester for those who have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Quality Inn & Suites at 50 Oriol Drive. As of noon today, the facility is up and running. One Worcester client has been checked in to the facility thus far. This is the sixth such facility in the state joining: Everett, Lexington, Northampton, Pittsfield and Taunton. This Worcester facility will have capacity for more than 100 COVID-19 positive individuals. Individuals must be COVID+ to qualify for the facility (family members must all be positive). The facility includes: individual rooms, 24/7 nursing team checks, 24/7 security, individualized in-room food service, laundry service, behavioral health services. The Worcester site will also be a Designated Family Site with items available such as: cribs, diapers, formula, pediatrician consults, and check for sex offender status. The Worcester positive cases that were recently moved to Northampton will not be transferred to the Quality Inn facility here in Worcester. They will finish isolation where they are. All future referrals for Worcester and the surrounding area will go to this site. This is the first such facility in Central Mass. Like the existing facilities, the Worcester facility will have a centralized in-take process run by the Red Cross that is manned everyday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. The number to call is 617-367-5150. The intake coordinator will determine eligibility, register an individual for a program and have the client placed and transported to the facility. Criteria (for admittance) - These locations are for individuals who: Are homeless (people who normally sleep at a shelter, on the street, for whom home is unsafe due to violence, or who do not have a permanent address) OR Are a MassHealth member OR uninsured and under 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) AND who are COVID-19 positive OR are symptomatic with a pending test and have a medical provider’s note recommending isolation AND can safely isolate without medical supervision.
- The Worcester Together Fund has raised in excess of $6 million. The fund has given out $1.3 million in grants. To donate, please visit: worcesterma.gov/coronavirus or text worcestercovid19 to 243725.
- Senior Center update: Number of seniors contacted to date: 6,891; Outreach phone calls made to seniors today: 190; Number of meals delivered in Worcester today: 986
- Today, the City Manager recognized another group of unsung heroes in the City workforce: the Technical Services team, especially: Keith MacNeil, Frank Rodriguez, Brian Pham and Dave Wambach. During the pandemic, this group has done a tremendous amount of work such as: Providing ongoing technical support at the Emergency Operations Center; setting up remote access for city employees to work from home (ensuring the delivery of City services); assisting the Cable Services Division with remote broadcasting of meetings; setting up and configuring a backup police and fire dispatch call center as well as a backup Emergency Operations Center; and providing ongoing technical support to more than 1,700 City employees on a 24/7 basis.
- The City of Worcester COVID-19 information line can be reached at 508-799-1019. Individuals can speak live with a nurse, Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
