Tapestry Health will provide free COVID-19 testing in Springfield as part of the “Stop the Spread” testing initiative and announced the sites on Monday.
Sen. Eric Lesser applauded the news of more testing sites but felt the news bittersweet, adding that more needs to be done to expand testing in the western half of the state.
“This is a critical time to ramp up testing in order to contain the virus and hopefully avoid the secondary surges that have happened in other states. Tapestry has always stepped up to address public health in moments of crisis, and it makes sense that Tapestry is being called upon to make this happen,” said Tapestry CEO Cheryl Zoll.
Gov. Charlie Baker announced that the state is expanding its free coronavirus testing program to eight more communities with slightly higher rates of infections, including Springfield and Worcester.
The initiative, dubbed “Stop the Spread,” launched on July 10, and included free COVID-19 testing at sites in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough and New Bedford, where officials have observed higher rates of infection and lower testing levels.
“It was welcome news to learn that our call for testing outside of I-495 was heard and that some action was taken,” said Lesser. “The inclusion of Agawam and Springfield in the ‘Stop the Spread’ testing initiative will take some pressure off our local healthcare systems and will help some of our most vulnerable populations access COVID-19 testing at no cost, without prior referral and close to home.”
The testing sites come as more than 50 infections have been tied to a recent coronavirus outbreak at Baystate Medical Center but the outbreak has not spread beyond the affected unit, hospital officials said Monday.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health reported on Sunday that 406 people are hospitalized in Massachusetts because of the virus.
The state’s positive test rate rose to 2.2% based on a seven-day weighted average. In mid-July, the average was at 1.7%. State officials said last week that a slight increase may be the result of several “small clusters” of cases linked to recent gatherings.
“We have many very vulnerable and very high-risk communities,” Lesser told the Boston Herald on July 12. “The idea that a person of limited needs, a low-income person, a person from an immigrant community or non-English speaking community is going to be able to access a site in Marlborough 70 miles away is totally unrealistic and totally defeats the purpose of the initiative.”
Free testing sites opening in Western Massachusetts “is welcome news,” but Lesser said more needs to be done.
“More needs to be done to expand testing capacity in Western Massachusetts, a highly diverse region that encompasses nearly 3,000 square miles and remains the poorest area of our Commonwealth,” said Lesser. “We all have a part to play in stopping the spread of the COVID-19 and that starts with an even playing field that includes all areas across our Commonwealth.”
Testing will be drive-through, free, and available for both asymptomatic and symptomatic individuals. Testing will be done via nasal swab and results will be available within 48 hours. The program is scheduled to run through Aug. 14. Testing is not limited to only residents of Springfield or other named cities; it is open to all residents of Massachusetts.
Springfield testing locations and dates are:
- Aug. 7: from 3-6 p.m. at South End Middle School, 36 Margaret St.
- Aug. 11: from 3-6 p.m. at Zanetti Middle School, 474 Armory St.
- Aug. 14: from 3-6 p.m. at Kennedy Middle School, 1385 Berkshire Ave.
Related Content:
- Tapestry Health will provide free COVID-19 testing for Springfield and Agawam as part of the Stop the Spread testing initiative
- Number of cases in Baystate Medical Center coronavirus outbreak rises to 55