Health & Fitness
New Worcester Coronavirus Case Brings City Total To 7
Worcester is preparing for a large rise in cases in April as more coronavirus testing becomes available.
WORCESTER, MA — Less than a week after announcing the city's first positive coronavirus case, Worcester notched its sixth and seventh positive cases on Friday, officials said.
The seven total cases in Worcester are among the 19 in Worcester County, and 413 statewide. City Manager Edward Augustus warned that the number of cases could start to rise soon as testing becomes more available.
"We expect that number to rise in the days and weeks ahead," he said.
A special COVID-19 testing station is being set up in Worcester for first responders like police, firefighters, and dispatchers. But testing for civilians is still very limited, according to Medical Director Michael Hirsch.
Local hospitals are trying not to "blow through" testing supplies and personal protective gear, Hirsch said. Some people who are being told to get tested by their doctors are being turned away due to so few tests being available, he said.
"We're trying to literally ration the tests until such time they become more plentiful," Hirsch said. "No one is getting sent home if they're symptomatic."
The time it takes to get test results is also subduing COVID-19 numbers, Hirsch said. The cases being confirmed today are in people who have had COVID-19 for two weeks, he said, and expects the number to grow a lot by April.
