By JULIE CUNNINGHAM
(Worcester, MA) Today Governor Charlie Baker toured the new field hospital at Umass Memorial Hospital, which will be available for patients starting Sunday, December 6. During the daily COVID-19 update, Baker acknowledged that there is community spread of COVID-19 throughout the state. To date, over 8.5 million COVID-19 tests have been conducted in Massachusetts and the percent positive rate currently stands just above 4%.
“The new case growth is obviously driving a rise in hospitalizations,” said Baker. “The good news is medical professionals have gotten a lot smarter and a lot better at treating people with COVID,” he went on.
Baker said the rise in cases will put additional strain on the health care system, and hospitals are increasing their ICU capacity. Field hospitals like the field hospital at Umass Memorial Hospital are part of Baker’s initiative to alleviate some of that pressure. A second field hospital will be constructed in Lowell.