GARDNER – Heywood Healthcare President Winfield Brown reported Sunday that the number of patients in its system who have tested positive for the COVID-19 virus now tops 100. On Monday morning, Brown said a total of 799 tests had been conducted, with 583 negative results and 104 patients testing positive, for a positive testing rate now of 15.1 percent.
He added that three coronavirus patients were being treated in Heywood Hospital’s intensive care unit, two are being treated on a medical/surgical unit, and five other in-patients are under investigation for COVID-19.
He added that were now nearly 1,000 positive cases across Worcester County and that Franklin County had “cracked the 100 number.”
“Just a reminder from Carol Roosa, our chief information officer,” Brown continued, “there are a lot of scams going on out there, so please be aware of them. As she told me, the government will not email, call, or text you, so don’t respond to those. Don’t provide any personal information in exchange for promises that they’re going to expedite a check getting paid to you. Just hang up; don’t press any keys on your phone.
“No one has any home testing kits for COVID-19 to sell you, so don’t fall victim to that. And there are no professional cleaning services out there who will come to your houses and clean them for COVID-19.
“So, just be aware of that. Be as smart as you can and be safe.”
Brown noted that the community continues to step up to help health care workers on the front lines in the fight against the pandemic.
On Sunday, an anonymous donor provided lunch for the Heywood staff, with food being supplied by the 99 Restaurant in Gardner. In addition, the Winchendon School delivered 1,000 surgical face masks to Heywood Healthcare. The masks were donated by the families of some of the students at the private school, which boasts an international student body.
Brown also said high school junior Matthew Johnson donated 50 3-D printed face shields. Brown did not specify which school Johnson attended, saying only that he was from “Western Massachusetts.”
According to Health Agent Deb Vondal, as of Saturday, a total of eight cases of COVID-19 had been confirmed in Athol, one of which has already been cleared.