Worcester Sees Biggest One-Day Coronavirus Rise Since May

WORCESTER, MA — The coronavirus situation in Worcester is getting worse.

Worcester recorded 266 new COVID-19 cases over the past week, and 84 on Thursday alone — the highest number in a single day since May 22 during the first wave of the pandemic, officials said.

The worsening in Worcester is a trend that's hitting the entire state — Massachusetts added over 1,761 cases alone on Thursday — as new statewide rules are set to go into effect Friday night to cut down on the spread.

"This is serious," Mayor Joseph Petty said at a news conference Thursday afternoon.

Health officials say they are very concerned about the virus spreading inside households where people may not be taking the right precautions, like wearing masks and social distancing.

Of the 84 cases detected Thursday, 36 percent came from just nine households. And between Oct. 29 and Nov. 4, 25 percent of 183 cases detected came from 20 households.

But the virus is also active pretty much across the entire city: in businesses, long-term care facilities and at small social gatherings. There's also a lot of "community spread," where an infection can't be traced back to a particular place or event, City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said.

Cases are also rising in local hospitals. There are now 54 people hospitalized across the UMass and Saint Vincent hospital systems, an increase of 19 over last week. There are five more people in intensive-care units, bringing the total to 14.

There have also been three COVID-19 deaths in those hospitals over the past week.

Officials are asking residents to reconsider holiday gatherings, and will be out enforcing the new restrictions starting this weekend. Asked about possible shutdowns, which are happening across Europe due to a sharp rise in cases, Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said Massachusetts may see them soon, but in shorter durations than last spring.

"We may be facing some of those European solutions," Hirsh said.