WORCESTER - He has been one of the city's leading voices since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Doctor Michael Hirsh has been at every one of Worcester's daily briefings, serving as the Department of Public Health's Medical Director.

"It has been very very busy. I think the more we study the community, the more we realize how much is out there in the community," Dr Hirsh said. "[UMass Memorial Healthcare CEO and President Dr. Eric Dickson] was saying there's about a 10% prevalence in the community. I suspect in the end, it's going to be a little higher."

The city surpassed 2,000 total cases of the virus this week. More than 100 people in the UMass and Saint Vincent hospital systems have died.

"People can die if they are vulnerable. Our whole goal in public health is putting those fires out," Dr. Hirsh said.

Governor Charlie Baker extended the state's stay-at-home advisory until Wednesday, May 18.

And while still more than two weeks away, Dr. Hirsh says at this point in time, the city may not be ready.

Dr. Hirsh said, "Right now, we have no time to think about opening up when there are when there these outbreaks going on in Walmart, group homes, and shelters still."

Dr. Hirsh expects the city's reopening date to be pushed back because he estimates the surge will last through late next week.

"I think the idea of peaking on May 8 and opening up on May 18, that would be a tall order. That would be a real tall order," Dr. Hirsh said.

His advice is simple: Continue to socially distance. Continue to wear a mask in public so once the virus is gone, it's gone. Dr. Hirsh says his fear is another surge hitting the city because these practices are stopped too soon. ​