Worcester Coronavirus Cases Fall As State Labels City 'High-Risk'

WORCESTER, MA — A day after the state Department of Public Health added Worcester to the list of "high-risk" communities in the state, city officials reported a slight week-over-week drop in cases.

But Worcester's leaders are asking residents to recommit to guarding against coronavirus — that includes wearing masks, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings.

"As a city we're doing pretty good, but we have to vigilant," Mayor Joseph Petty said during a Thursday press briefing. "Don't let your guard down."

Worcester has reported increasing cases in each of the last three weeks: 140 new cases on Sept. 11, 98 on Sept. 3, and 87 on Aug. 27. On Thursday, the city reported 106 new cases, a decline since Sept. 11.

But the state figures tell a different story. Worcester was adding 9.5 cases per 100,000 residents daily over the last 14 days. Over that period, 255 new coronavirus new cases appeared in the city. The city has now had 6,130 cases since the beginning of the pandemic last spring.

In one bright spot, Worcester's positive test rate was 0.87 percent over the last 14 days, just a hair lower than the statewide average of 0.90 percent.

The "high-risk" label does mean Worcester will get additional state assistance. City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said he'll be in talks with state officials beginning Friday on what that help will look like. In other high-risk communities, state workers have assisted with community education.

The education could be key to slowing the spread in Worcester. Augustus said large gatherings have been a problem, especially between families. In one case, eight people in one family tested positive, he said.

College students, who have been back in Worcester for several weeks, have not contributed to the city's high-risk status in a major way, officials said. However, the city has responded to some 400 complaints about students violating coronavirus rules, and has issued seven citations.

"Now is not the time to let our guard down," Augustus said. "This is a reminder that this virus will come back quickly if we let our guard down."

Worcester is one of a handful of cities chosen for the state's Stop the Spread free testing program. There are two permanent testing sites at Quinsigamond Community College and the AFC Urgent Care along Stafford Street.

Here's where Worcester stands among the 18 high-risk communities in the state for average daily case rates:

• Chelsea — 22.9
• Nantucket — 18.9
• Revere — 18.8
• Lawrence — 16.9
• Everett — 16.3
• Lynn — 12.7
• Framingham — 11.4
• Dedham — 11.1
• Lynnfield — 10.4
• Monson — 10.2
• Worcester — 9.5
• Wrentham — 9.5
• New Bedford — 9.4
• Saugus — 9
• Tynsborough — 8.9
• Wintrhrop — 8.7
• Plainville — 8.6