Worcester Now Averaging 500 Coronavirus Cases Per Week

WORCESTER, MA — The trajectory of new coronavirus cases in Worcester continues skyward, with officials saying in a pre-Thanksgiving press conference Wednesday the city is adding 500 cases on average per week.

Worcester added 550 cases over the past six days, the second-highest weekly number next to the week ending Nov. 19, when 667 new cases appeared. Worcester added 142 new cases on Tuesday alone — higher than some weekly totals from early October.

Health officials have been asking residents to scale-down Thanksgiving celebrations and not travel. Still, Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said the city's expecting a "big bump" in cases two weeks after the holiday.

If that happens, it will be just in time for the opening of the coronavirus field hospital at the DCU Center, which will house patients recovering from the virus. The hospital, with room for more than 200, will open by Dec. 6, officials say.

Hirsh said the new fear is that staff at local hospitals will be overwhelmed by the number of patients showing up for treatment. Between UMass and Saint Vincent hospitals, there were 126 people being treated for the virus, plus 37 in intensive-care units.

Worcester is classified in the lower-risk yellow category by the state Department of Public Health. In that category, the city could move to step two of phase three of the state's reopening plan, which means bar seating and higher sit-down limits in restaurants. But Augustus is not allowing city businesses to move to that step.

"Honestly, in good conscience, I can't allow Worcester to advance to this step," he said. "Our trends are not positive and Worcester is not in a good place right now."

Wednesday's press conference was the final chance officials had to urge residents to wear masks, maintain social distance and avoid large gatherings during Thanksgiving.

"Be smart and stay healthy, this is real," Mayor Joseph Petty said.