Coronavirus Deaths At Worcester Hospitals Grow, Case Count At 379

WORCESTER, MA — The number of coronavirus deaths at Worcester's two main hospitals grew over the weekend, according to city officials.

As of Monday, 33 people had died of coronavirus complications at either Saint Vincent or UMass Memorial hospitals, and 79 workers at those hospitals have tested positive for the virus. That's an increase of 17 deaths and 13 new positive medical worker tests since Sunday.

There are another 104 people hospitalized due to coronavirus, and 33 people are in intensive care at either Saint Vincent or UMass.

The new case numbers come as the city's overall count has surged.

There were 379 people in Worcester who have tested positive as of Monday. The city has added 257 cases since April 1 alone.

Those numbers include an increase in cases at the Jewish Healthcare Center, where three residents died last week due to the virus. A total of 27 residents have now tested positive with two of them showing symptoms. Thirteen staff members have tested positive, and 18 are waiting on results.

Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said that the high number of asymptomatic people at the Jewish Healthcare Center shows how the virus spreads without anyone knowing. He said it may be a good idea for residents to cover their faces while out at places like the grocery store or pharmacy — not as protection, but to prevent asymptomatic spread. The Centers for Disease Control has said that face coverings might help prevent infected people spreading virus particules over a wide area.

"I think it's an illustration that there's a lot of disease out here that people aren't aware of," Hirsh said of the Jewish Healthcare Center situation. "Anyone without symptoms can be a carrier, which is why it's so important to do that stay-at-home work."

Medical personnel in Worcester and around the nation are struggling with a shortage of personal protective equipment. A Saint Vincent nurse told Patch last week that the hospital is rationing certain supplies amid uncertainty about how long protective equipment will last.

Coronavirus is expected to peak in Worcester and across the state around April 18.