New Worcester Coronavirus Cases Higher Than State Average: DPH

Worcester MA

30 July, 2021

8:42 AM

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WORCESTER, MA — The coronavirus pandemic is not over and cases are on the rise locally, according to state data. Data released Thursday by the state Department of Public Health (DPH) shows that new daily cases in Worcester are higher than the statewide average. Many towns surrounding the city are also adding cases at a higher rate. Over the past two weeks, Worcester was adding an average of 6 new cases per day, higher than the 5.3 per day statewide. Worcester added 161 cases over the two weeks ending July 29, according to the data. One month ago, Worcester added only 17 cases over a one-week period. The increase comes as the COVID-19 Delta variant spreads in Massachusetts — and as vaccination rates have slowed down. As of Thursday, just about 60 percent — or about 100,000 people — of Worcester was fully vaccinated. Related: Where To Get A Free Coronavirus Vaccine In Worcester The Delta variant, which is more transmissible, is mainly affecting unvaccinated people, according to health officials. But Massachusetts has seen over 6,300 "breakthrough" cases out of the 4.3 million state residents who have been fully vaccinated, according to DPH. UMass Medical School professor Dr. Robert Finberg said local health officials don't expect to see a coronavirus "surge" similar to what happened in March 2020 and over the past winter. "We expect that as in the United Kingdom, where the Delta variant was seen earlier, the disease will reach a peak soon and then will decline," Finberg said in a UMass Medical School article on July 22. "We do not expect another surge as we had earlier in the year."