STOP THE SPREAD TESTING SITES EXTENDED TESTING THROUGH DEC. 31ST
WALK UP COVID-19 Testing Site in Holyoke
A walk-up COVID testing site opened in Holyoke at 323 Appleton St. Testing hours are Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 2pm to 6pm. Testing will run until 12/31/20.
DRIVE UP COVID-19 Testing Site in Holyoke
A Stop the Spread test has opened at Holyoke Community College. Testing will run until 12/31/20.
– The site will operate Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday 7am – 11am. Tuesday and Thursday 2pm -7pm.
– Turnaround time for results is typically 4 days or fewer.
– This test site is first come, first serve. There are no appointments. Please do not call the Health Department or Holyoke Community College to make an appointment.
– The test site at Holyoke Community College is a drive-through only test site. Please do not get out of your vehicle. Signage and Campus Police will be readily apparent to help you access the site easily.
– To help speed up the process, please have your information ready. They will ask for your full name, address (you must be a Massachusetts resident), phone number and email address.
– There is no cost for the testing. You do not need a referral, nor do you need to be symptomatic.
– The test style will be the less invasive swab in the lower nostril. The older style that required further insertion of the swab will not be used.
– If you have previously tested positive, DPH and CDC guidelines do not recommend getting retested at this time.
– If you are acutely symptomatic, particularly if you have a high fever, consider scheduling a test with your Primary Care Physician.
– Information on all of the Stop the Spread test sites across the State can be found at: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread
Tens of thousands fear ‘imminent eviction’ as Massachusetts moratorium lifts
The statewide eviction and foreclosure moratorium expires on Saturday Oct. 17, leaving tens of thousands of households across the commonwealth in fear of losing their homes amid the coronavirus pandemic.
The Metropolitan Area Planning Council estimates some 60,000 renter households across the state “fear imminent eviction,” while housing advocacy group City Life/Vida Urbana estimates the number to be closer to 100,000.
The moratorium was originally put in place as an emergency protection ahead amid the coronavirus pandemic, and many have called on Gov. Charlie Baker to once again extend the moratorium — particularly given the winter months and flu season approaching, as well as a potential second surge of the Covid-19 pandemic that brought the region to its knees this spring. Read the full story here: https://www.masslive.com/news/2020/10/tens-of-thousands-fear-imminent-eviction-as-massachusetts-moratorium-lifts.html
More than 70% of recent positive COVID tests in Massachusetts involve people under 50
State testing data echoes what Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said this week about the recent increase in COVID-19 cases: young people are driving the uptick.
“That community, more than almost any other at this point, is driving the single biggest increase in cases,” the Republican governor said, referring to people in their 20s and 30s.
Data published under Chapter 93 this week show more than 70% of positive COVID-19 tests in the past six weeks involve people under the age of 50. In the first few months of the pandemic, people over age 50 largely accounted for the rise in COVID-19 positive tests, hospitalizations and deaths.
People in their 20s accounted for 22% of the positive COVID-19 tests between Sept. 1 and Tuesday, the most recent day available. People under age 19 accounted for 17.5% of positive tests, people in their 30s accounted for 16.8% and people in their 40s accounted for nearly 14% of the COVID-19 tests, according to the data. Read the full story here: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/10/more-than-70-of-recent-positive-covid-19-tests-in-massachusetts-involve-people-under-the-age-of-50.html
Massachusetts loosens the criteria for its out-of-state travel rules, amid COVID-19 uptick
Massachusetts is loosening the criteria for its out-of-state travel rules, amid an increase in COVID-19 levels within its own borders and in several neighboring states.
The state’s Department of Public Health announced Friday that is relaxing one of the metrics it uses to determine which states are classified as “lower risk,” meaning individuals visiting or returning from those states are not required to self-quarantine for two weeks or have proof of a recent negative COVID-19 test. Read the full story here: https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/10/16/massachusetts-changes-criteria-for-its-out-of-state-travel-rules
As of today there are currently 1248 positive COVID cases in Holyoke < 1% increase
Weekly Public Health Report (Updated Wednesday) Contains town-by-town numbers, long-term care facility information, and more: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-weekly-public-health-report-
Massachusetts comprehensive daily “dashboard” illustrating the spread of this virus across regions and demographics: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/covid-19-response-reporting#covid-19-daily-dashboard-
Testing has a turnaround time of 1-5 days and many cases are being clinically diagnosed (no testing or reporting involved). All are advised to behave as though they are carriers of Covid-19.
The curve we need to flatten: County numbers graphed over time can be found here: https://www.wmasscovid.com/
As of today Massachusetts had experienced a total of 9,532 deaths among the 141,474 confirmed Covid-19 cases.