The number of tested/confirmed cases in Chicopee: 6,627 *Total

^{(*Our City’s numbers do not reflect all that the State includes: the reason is some citizens no longer physically reside in Chicopee. They now reside in Non-Chicopee Assisted Living Facilities throughout the State but still hold a mailing address in Chicopee. For example – Holyoke Soldiers Home is the current home to six of our active cases but we do NOT include them in our numbers because they would not affect our population during this pandemic. 
We do, however, continue to check in with them and make sure they are taken care of.)}

COVID-19 Situational Updates 

The City of Chicopee has updates as the COVID-19 situation has warranted a centralized/increase in the distribution of information. These updates are intended to keep all informed of the actions being taken to reduce the impacts of Coronavirus on the community.

On Wednesday, November 24, 2021, the following City of Chicopee Departments have reported: 

Mayor’s Office

• The statewide numbers for infections are showing a rise across several age categories
• Hospital capacity is decreasing and there is a potential that all elective surgeries will be cancelled
• Children five to eighteen are experiencing the largest rise in infections
• The state had 2,616 new cases which is up from last week
• The state numbers indicated 24 new deaths yesterday which is steady from last week and too high
• The state had 740 cases in hospitals, with 154 in ICU which is up compared to last week 
• The state seven day average positivity remains above 2% at 3.28% 
• Testing is continuing with 74,199 molecular tests reported which brings the cumulative tests to 32,991,469 tests.  
• We want to continue to make vaccination opportunities available to residents and are at 59% vaccinated which is low 
• We are being cautious with events downsizing Bright Nights to only 50 people per night and only two nights which is down from the 300 people we had generally had at Bright Nights
• The 150^th anniversary of the City Hall Auditorium is being reviewed as the infection numbers are increasing especially among young people
• The Tree Lighting is also being made into a type of visit with Santa and grab and go with soup and munchies

Health 

• City Case Counts
  1. There are 401 open cases 
  2. There are 31 deaths 
  3. 137 N/A 
  4. 6,065 recovered
  5. A total of 6,627 cases to date
• Of the 394 open cases, 134 are children ages 0-18 which indicated a rise in children being infected
• The positive rate in Chicopee is at 4.7 which is an increase
• There is concern about the tree lighting event as many of the attendees will be young children
• The Bright Nights trip is not a concerning as most seniors are vaccinated
• The Holyoke Health Center is no longer testing at Sarah Jane Park and have moved to the old Sears building at the Holyoke Mall
• Vaccines are available at pharmacies and they are administering Booster doses as well

Police Department

• We are stable on staff and all shifts are covered

Fire Department

• Status quo on services and all firefighters reporting for work
• No new cases to report

Emergency Management

• Status quo on services and staffing
• The trends in the county are not good with increasing infection rates throughout the area
• We are at numbers we have not seen since last April
• People are gathering with holidays and sporting events occurring

Safety

• At full staffing
• There were 90 tests administered on Monday and 16 tested positive for COVID.   This is double the number of tests since last week
• Six of the positive results were under 18 years old
• We are seeing breakthrough cases so boosters are needed

DPW

• Status quo on staffing and services
• Waiting for three staff members to return to work

COA

• Status Quo on staffing and services
• The December 2^nd booster clinic is fully subscribed and a large number of walk-ins are expected
• The number of attendees at indoor programs is slowly growing
• The Thanksgiving dinner meal drive through was a success with over 600 meals handed out and a similar event is planned for Christmas

Human Resources

• Status Quo on services
• It is recommended we send out a reminder to employees to report any symptoms, wash hands, wear a mask if they want and social distance

Library

• Staff is all healthy and wearing masks
• Attendance is slowly increasing and patrons are wearing masks while in the library

Treasurer

• Status Quo

Messages from Mayor Vieau