February 19, 2021
Coronavirus cases continue nosedive across Central Mass.
Photo | Matt Wright
COVID-19 vaccinations have been given to first responders from Worcester and surrounding communities at the Worcester Senior Center.
By Grant Welker
New coronavirus cases in Worcester County have dropped by roughly three-quarters in five weeks' time, continuing a promising fast decline in cases after worrying numbers around and just after the holidays.
The same trend took place statewide in new numbers released Thursday by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. Massachusetts cases were also down nearly three-quarters.
In the week ending Thursday, Worcester County had 1,273 new cases. In the week ending Jan. 14, that number was 4,732. Over that same stretch of time, new weekly state cases fell to 11,569 from 40,109.
Worcester County now has a total of 63,588 cases since the pandemic began, and Massachusetts' total is 534,827.
The more promising numbers come as Worcester County is a hot spot in Massachusetts for a variant of COVID-19 that originated in the United Kingdom. Worcester County has had 17 reported cases of the variant, including 14 new cases DPH reported Sunday. The variant is known to spread more easily and may be more deadly, although data on the variants is still preliminary.
Worcester city officials in a press conference Thursday urged residents to stay vigilant in light of the spread of the U.K. variant and despite the otherwise improving numbers.
"Whatever you do, don't let your guard down," Worcester Mayor Joseph Petty said.
City numbers have improved, with 336 new weekly cases through Thursday, the lowest such mark since early November. That brings the city's total so far to 20,207.
The two Worcester-based hospital systems, Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care, had 79 total inpatient cases, down by 40 from a week prior, according to the city. Intensive care patients were down by seven to 30, and the DCU Center field hospital was down to seven patients.
Worcester County deaths now total 1,984 since the pandemic began, up 62 in the past week. That's slightly below the pace of a month or two ago. Statewide deaths increased by 409 to 15,373. Worcester had seven new deaths for a total of 399.
As coronavirus cases, death and hospitalization numbers quickly improve, vaccinations are being rolled out to a broader segment of the population. State officials, under fire for a slow vaccination process, said Wednesday those 65 and older are now eligible for shots.
Just over 1.2 million doses have been administered as of Thursday, according to the DPH, including 10.5% of Worcester County. For required second doses, 4.1% of Worcester County has been covered.
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