Worcester Won't Expand Restaurant Seating Citing Coronavirus

WORCESTER, MA — On Monday, restaurants and other businesses across Massachusetts will be allowed to expand seating under a new order from Gov. Charlie Baker. But Worcester won't be taking part, the city manager said on Thursday.

Worcester, one of 15 red high-risk communities in the state for coronavirus, will stay at the current seating threshold of six people per table in an effort to push cases down. Starting Monday, businesses will be able to expand to 10 people per table, and allow diners will be able to sit at bars for a meal.

Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. said he made the decision along with Medical Director Dr. Michael Hirsh after "careful consideration."

"This is an opportunity for all residents to pull together, push our numbers down and move Worcester from the ‘red zone’ into the ‘yellow zone’" Augustus said in a news release. "I also encourage residents to take advantage of indoor and outdoor dining as well as take-out from our many wonderful local restaurants."

Worcester added 137 new cases over the week ending Sept. 24. That's the second-highest number of new cases in a single week dating back to the beginning of August, and also an increase compared to the previous week. However, the positive case rate has shrunk slightly from 5.61 percent between Sept. 6 and Sept. 12 to 3.52 percent between Sept. 13 and Sept. 19.