Worcester Sees Possible Plateau In Coronavirus Cases

WORCESTER, MA — Worcester officials are seeing signs of a possible plateau in coronavirus cases in the city — but they are also cautioning that the second surge of the pandemic is still a serious threat.

Worcester added 1,219 new cases over the week ending Jan. 14. In the week ending Jan. 7, Worcester adding almost 1,400 cases. Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said during a Thursday press conference it is possible cases are flattening out, but said the city needs more data to make sure.

Another bright spot: the number of people hospitalized with the virus at UMass Memorial and Saint Vincent hospitals dropped by eight over the past week to 268. The number of ICU patients also declined by eight to 59.

But the number of deaths at local hospitals jumped by 40 over the last week to a pandemic total of 509. Of those deaths, 342 were Worcester residents — an increase of 13 from Jan. 7.

Worcester Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh said the city is adding about 200 cases per-day on average, which is "too many." Hirsh also says more people are testing positive who are heeding health guidelines.

"We think the answer is it is a more transmissible kind of a virus right now," Hirsh said.

Worcester remains on the state's list of high-risk communities. There are 229 cities and towns out of 351 on the list right now, according to state data.