COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County COVID-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County
Covid-19: Town-By-Town Rates And Trends For Worcester County A little more than one-third of Massachusetts cities and towns are “red” and considered high-risk for the transmission of COVID-19. Of the 122 red Massachusetts communities, 18 are in Worcester County: Athol, Auburn, Bolton, Clinton, Fitchburg, Gardner, Hubbardston, Leicester, Leominster, Mendon, Milford, Northborough, Shrewsbury, Southborough, Webster, West Boylston, Westborough, and Worcester. As of Thursday, Oct. 29, there are now 122 red municipalities reporting high numbers of new COVID-19 cases every day for the past 28 days. The “red” refers to the color-coded system Massachusetts i…
COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities COVID-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities
Covid-19: Businesses Forced To Close - Again - In 13 'High-Risk' Communities Some businesses that opened just a few weeks ago will be closed as 13 Massachusetts cities and towns take a step back in reopening their local economies. COVID-19 rates that have spiked over the last several weeks are forcing 13 cities and towns to rollback their local economies to Step 1 of Phase 3. The closures and restrictions are temporary until the community can bring its COVID-19 positive test rate down. There are 26 other Massachusetts municipalities that were sent back to Step 1 of Phase 3 earlier. In total, that's 38 cities and towns with additional economic restrictions due to COV…
Truck Barrels Into Convenience Store Truck Barrels Into Convenience Store
Truck Barrels Into Convenience Store A 28-year-old Webster man is facing charges after he allegedly plowed his truck into a convenience store. On Friday, Oct. 23, Oxford Police said the early morning crash happened at the Mobil Fuel Station, 93 Southbridge Road. The Webster man, who police did not name, is being charged with operating under the influence of alcohol, police said. He was slated to appear in Dudley District Court Friday.  Police did not note any injuries when announcing the accident.
COVID-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection COVID-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection
Covid-19: Nearly 80 Massachusetts Towns Are 'High-Risk' For Infection Nearly 80 Massachusetts communities are at “high-risk” for the spread of COVID-19, according to the most recent state data. COVID-19 incidents have spiked across the state leading to clusters of coronavirus incidents in nearly every corner of Massachusetts. The overall daily average infection rate is 1.4 per 100,000 residents as of Friday, Oct. 22. Among the 77 communities that are high-risk or “red” (so-named due to the state’s color-coded incident map), there are 19 in Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties. Communities newly added to the high-risk category include Holyoke, Hudson, a…
COVID-19: These 15 'Red' Cities And Towns Pose Highest Infection Risk COVID-19: These 15 'Red' Cities And Towns Pose Highest Infection Risk
Covid-19: These 15 'Red' Cities And Towns Pose Highest Infection Risk More than 50 Massachusetts cities and towns are now considered to be at “high-risk” for spreading COVID-19 infections, according to the most recent state data. Among the communities where the risk is highest - 8 or more new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 residents, per day - are 15 Western and Central Massachusetts municipalities. The community with the highest daily incident rate is Marlborough - 19.9 new cases per day per 100,000 and going up. Though the risk is still high, infections in Amherst, Southborough, Springfield, and Sunderland are decreasing. On Wednesday, Oct. 14, Massachus…
COVID-19: Positive-Test-Rate Spikes - Twice As High As Summertime Average COVID-19: Positive-Test-Rate Spikes - Twice As High As Summertime Average
Covid-19: Positive-Test-Rate Spikes - Twice As High As Summertime Average The daily COVID-19 positive test rate has shot up to 4 percent in Massachusetts - a stark change from the 2 percent - or under - rates that the state enjoyed for much of the summer. More than 4.8 million COVID-19 tests have been administered in Massachusetts since the start of the pandemic. In the most recent weekly COVID-19 town-by-town state data, there were 40 communities listed as high-risk for the virus’ spread. The data was reported on Oct. 7. The week prior, there were 23 communities considered high-risk. The places where COVID-19 is spreading the fastest are in the Northeastern p…
COVID-19: Dozen Central/Western Mass Communities Are 'High-Risk' For Infection COVID-19: Dozen Central/Western Mass Communities Are 'High-Risk' For Infection
Covid-19: Dozen Central/Western Mass Communities Are 'High-Risk' For Infection COVID-19 rates are spiking in new communities in Western and Central Massachusetts. According to the most recent state data, Wednesday, Oct. 7, there are about a dozen “high-risk” or “red” communities in the second half of Massachusetts. High-risk communities have 8 or more positive COVID-19 tests per 100,000 residents - a level that puts the town at high-risk for spreading the disease. The community with the highest rate of average daily COVID-19 infections is Sunderland, with 20.67 new infections per 100,000 residents. The community with the most total cases over the past two weeks is …
Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident
Auto Shop Owner Dies In Excavating Accident Police have identified the man who died when an excavator he was operating rolled over and down a ravine on Tuesday, Sept. 29. Sten R. Brote, 66, of Sutton, died in the excavator accident on Leland Hill Road, according to the Worcester Telegram & Gazette. He owned his own truck and auto repair service - B&P Auto Services on Millbury Street in Worcester - for nearly 40 years. Brote was an avid antique engine collector, his obituary said. He was a member of the Central Massachusetts Steam, Gas and Machinery Association, a past commander of the SONDS of the American Legion Post 414 i…
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…
Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster
Second Marijuana Establishment Pitched To Webster A retail marijuana dispensary is being proposed for Webster. Developers are seeking to put an adult-use marijuana establishment at 4 Town Forest Road, Unit A, in Webster. A community outreach meeting on the proposed pot shop will be held on Oct. 15, 6 p.m. at 4 Town Forest Road. The meeting will be held outside, rain, or shine. Webster has one marijuana establishment in town: Curaleaf, which does cultivation and manufacturing of marijuana products. Munro Associates is the only other company that has applied for a marijuana establishment license in Webster. Munro is owned by Somerset re…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept. COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept.
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Trends, Rates - Worcester County, Sept. COVID-19 positive test rates are down in most Worcester County communities - including the City of Worcester, which had its fourth straight week of declining cases, according to the most recent state information available. The 14-day positive test rate in Worcester is down to 0.8 from a high of 2.5 just about a month ago (Aug. 5). There are some other communities that saw significant declines while others shot up. Barre had a positive test case for the first time in weeks. Test rates are up in Blackstone, Douglas, Holden, and Northbridge. Northbridge has the highest rate of the four with 1.…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Worcester County, August Positive COVID-19 test rates continue to spike in North Brookfield and Brookfield, as Worcester’s rate gets closer to a high-point in July, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. Worcester’s positive test rate went from 2.2 percent last week to 2.5 percent this week - just shy of a July high point of 2.6. After seeing positive test rates rise in Fitchburg and Spencer over the last few weeks, the most recent numbers show a decline in infections. Meanwhile, Webster’s positive rate carries on with a three-week trend of decreasing positive tests, the 14-day COVI…