Worcester To End Weekly Coronavirus Briefings — A Positive Sign

WORCESTER, MA — In a sign the coronavirus pandemic is slowing down, Worcester officials will stop holding weekly live briefings on the local coronavirus situation.

During the final live briefing on Thursday, officials reported 313 new cases over the past week, which is 51 cases lower than the previous week. The increasing vaccination rates have buoyed optimism about a continued decline in cases heading into the summer months.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr., Mayor Joseph Petty and Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh began holding the press conferences during the first wave of the pandemic last spring. They stopped when the pandemic slowed down last summer, but began again in late 2020 when the second wave began to crest.

To date, 23,047 Worcester residents have tested positive for the virus and 418 have died.

As of April 12, about 38,500 city residents, or 21 percent, had received both shots of a vaccine. Another 68,000 had received at least one shot. Officials said Thursday new cases were mostly being detected mainly in younger, working people.

Augustus said during Thursday's briefing that the city will continue to release data each week on new cases and vaccine rates. The live briefings will only return if there's significant news to report, he said.