Health & Fitness
Worcester Coronavirus Cases Jump By 206, Partly Due To Data Error
Worcester's total coronavirus cases reached 1,445 on April 22, according to officials.
WORCESTER, MA — Worcester saw its biggest jump in coronavirus cases so far during the pandemic on Wednesday, but that may partly be due to an error involving the state's disease surveillance database.
Worcester added 206 coronavirus cases between Tuesday and Wednesday, bringing the city's total to 1,445. The Massachusetts Virtual Epidemiological Network (MVEN) experienced an error over the weekend, officials said, leading to a spike in cases.
The Saint Vincent and UMass Memorial hospitals were caring for 243 coronavirus patients on Wednesday, up three from Tuesday. Deaths at the hospitals hit 66, and 88 people were being treated in intensive care — both of those numbers rose by two compared to Tuesday.
Worcester Medical Director Michael Hirsh said each hospital was at about 80 percent of ICU capacity — high, but not so high that the hospitals are having to ration ventilators, he said.
"Because of all the mitigation we've done with the community, maintaining our physical distance, maintaining our hygiene, maintaining our face mask use, we have definitely flattened the curve," Hirsh said.
