For Immediate Release:
10/1/2020 10:12 pm
The City of Worcester remains at “high risk” for transmission of COVID-19. This is the 3rd week that the City has been in the state’s designated “red zone”, having a rate of average daily cases greater than 8 per 100,000 people. We must work together as a community to move down in the state’s color-coded system to a “yellow” zone, which requires that we have a rate of average daily cases less than 8 per 100,000 people for 3 consecutive weeks.
To date, there have been 6,409 confirmed positive COVID-19 cases in Worcester, 141 new cases since last report. There have been 291 COVID-19 related deaths of Worcester residents
Positive case counts in surrounding towns:
Shrewsbury: 411 (+18) – state designated “Yellow” zone
Holden: 162 (+2) – state designated “Yellow” zone
Grafton: 119 (+1)
Leicester: 181 (+5)
There have been a total of 70,158 molecular tests to date.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced Tuesday that effective Monday, Oct. 5 lower-risk communities in Massachusetts will be permitted to move into step 2 of Phase 3 of the Commonwealth’s reopening plan. Worcester will not move into the next step until it meets the state requirement.
UMass Memorial Health Care and Saint Vincent Hospital
23 COVID-19 positive in-patients (+9)
9 total COVID-19 positive ICU patients (+5)
379 COVID-19 related deaths to date (+1)
441 employees have tested positive to date (+10)
Clusters/Trends
South High Construction Project: 3 cases
Manufacturing Company: 4 cases this week
Youth Sports: 4 cases to date
Long-term Care Facilities: 42 total combines cases
College/Universities: 60 total cumulative cases
Neighborhoods (top 10 with most new cases):
Bell Hill: 26
Pleasant St/Park Ave.: 24
Shrewsbury St.: 22
Chandler St./Park Ave: 18
Quinsigamond Village/College Hill: 18
North Worcester/Summit: 17
Tatnuck/West Tatnuck: 12
Park Ave/Main St.: 10
Westchester/Assumption College: 10
Columbus Park: 9
Rice Square: 9
Union Hill: 9
Cases by age:
19-under: 541
20-29: 947
30-39: 1,064
40-49: 996
50-59: 1,001
60-69: 706
70-up: 1,154
For more statistics, visit the City’s COVID-19 data dashboard at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/cityofworcesterma.innovationoffice#!/vizhome/WorcesterCOVID19Dashboard/WorcesterCOVID19Status
Because we remain at high risk for transmission of COVID, and following guidance from the CDC, which lists traditional, door-to-door trick-or-treating as a “higher risk activity,” the City of Worcester is prohibiting door-to-door trick-or-treating this year. Worcester is one of three (Lawrence & Springfield) high risk communities to restrict door-to-door trick-or-treating. The CDC has offered alternatives at https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/holidays.html#halloween
Inspections/Violations:
To date, the City of Worcester’s Inspectional Services Division has addressed 352 complaints about improper safety precautions while the Worcester Police Department’s Alcohol Unit has performed 56 visits since March 18. A total of 8 tickets have been issued.
WDPH has issued 2 tickets for workplace smoking violations related to COVID-19.
The Department of Professional Licensure has performed 59 inspections and issued 5 violations
The Alcohol and Beverage Control Commission has performed 109 inspections with no resulting violations.
The City has established an interdepartmental Enforcement and Education Team to visit local establishments to ensure compliance. The team, comprised of members of Inspectional Services, Worcester Police Department and Health and Human Services, will make weekly random visits aimed at educating owners and ensuring compliance with safety protocols.
Today, City Manager Augustus announced that the City has entered a Stage 1 Drought. Restrictions will go into effect Monday, Oct. 5.
