Polar Park Construction Resumes In Worcester With New Precautions

WORCESTER, MA — Construction projects across Worcester that were halted due to the coronavirus pandemic could resume starting Monday — that includes the Polar Park development.

Worcester issued a stop-work order for construction projects on April 1 following Gov. Charlie Baker's extension of his ban on nonessential work. Worcester officials said Sunday that Polar Park and South High School would be among the projects to resume on Monday.

Each construction project will have to submit a coronavirus safety plan to city officials before resuming work. The park is supposed to be complete before next April in time for the Worcester Red Sox opening day.

The news came as Worcester's coronavirus case count neared 3,000 on Sunday. That includes four new positive test results from workers at the Tobias Boland Way Walmart, which was closed on April 29 due to a sizeable coronavirus outbreak.

Over the weekend, the number of people being treated for coronavirus at Saint Vincent Hospital and UMass Memorial Health Care facilities dropped by nine on Saturday, but then rose by seven on Sunday to a total of 277. Another 15 people died at those two hospitals over the weekend from complications of COVID-19.