DCU Center Field Hospital Opens Sunday In Worcester: Baker

WORCESTER, MA — The coronavirus field hospital at the DCU Center in Worcester will open Sunday as local health officials prepare for a wave of new hospitalizations in the coming weeks.

Gov. Charlie Baker, Lt. Gov Karyn Polito, Secretary of Health and Human Services Marylou Sudders and other top officials toured the DCU Center hospital on Thursday morning. The tour came one day after the state marked the highest number of cases in one day since the beginning of the pandemic — a milestone Baker downplayed.

"One day does not make a trend," he said, adding that "all options remain on the table" if the situation gets worse.

Baker said that Wednesday's high number of new cases came alongside a high number of coronavirus tests. Hospitalizations are growing at a rate of 2 to 3 percent each day, which is lower than it was in the spring when 4,000 people were hospitalized in about 45 days, Baker said.

Worcester's field hospital will have a total capacity of about 250, and will begin taking patients immediately when it opens Sunday, UMass Memorial CEO Eric Dickson said. UMass is running the hospital with assistance from the state Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard.

Dickson said he expects hospitals will see a significant increase in hospitalizations in three to four weeks, which will make the field hospital essential.

"We have not seen the worst we're going to see," he said.

The DCU Center was turned into a field hospital in the spring, but will look much different this time, Dickson said. The hospital will be able to offer new COVID-19 treatments, like convalescent plasma, remdesivir and high-flow oxygen. The hospital has been built so that patients can socialize, and even use an exercise bike. The field hospital could also take patients from other states if there's room, Dickson said.

But officials urged residents to continue wearing masks, practice social distancing and take other precautions to avoid contracting the virus at all.

"We want this to be the final surge," Dickson said. "This is about being a good citizen. This is about taking care of your fellow human being."