STOP THE SPREAD TESTING SITES EXTENDED TESTING THROUGH OCT. 31ST
WALK UP COVID-19 Testing Site in Holyoke
A new 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 10/31/20.
DRIVE UP COVID-19 Testing Site in Holyoke
A Stop the Spread test has opened at Holyoke Community College. Testing will run until 10/31/20.
– 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
MA DPH COVID-19 Impact Survey-The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MA-DPH) is trying to hear from communities so that it can better help people through the COVID-19 crisis. By taking this survey, you can help find new solutions to community problems, and give MA-DPH the information they need to take action and support the communities that need it most. MA-DPH is committed to sharing information back in ways that will help us all take collective action
This effort will help us better understand the impact of COVID-19 on our communities, and would encourage anyone who is 14 years old or older to participate using this link: www.mass.gov/COVIDsurvey
Next Step of Mass. Reopening Plan Starts Monday. Here’s What to Know
Only communities deemed low-risk will be eligible to move into the new step of the state’s reopening plan
On Monday, much of Massachusetts will begin Step 2 of Phase 3 of the state’s re-opening plan for the coronavirus pandemic.
The move comes even as coronavirus cases and hospitalizations continue to tick up in Massachusetts — on Saturday, 600 new cases were reported, along with 17 more deaths, while the average percentage of tests coming back positive remained held at 1.1% — up slightly from the 0.8% it held at for most of September. Read the full story here: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/next-step-of-mass-reopening-plan-starts-monday-heres-what-to-know/2206406/
As Mass. COVID Cases Spike, Fears Rise Over Second Surge and New Shutdown
“As much as we’d like to get back to a pre-COVID-19 life, I think, from a safety perspective, it is best to hold off,” said the clinical director of the infectious disease unit at Brigham and Women’s Hospital
As cases climb in Massachusetts, some public health experts are sounding the alarm about what they believe should be done to avoid a second surge. Without more restrictions on gatherings and indoor dining, some fear the state could be headed toward another shutdown.
At one point Massachusetts was seeing less than 200 cases a day, but in recent days, that number more than doubled. Then Thursday evening, the Department of Public Health reported 708 new COVID-19 cases, the most in a single day without a reporting anomaly since May.
Springfield is One of 23 Cities Designated as a COVID Red Zone in MA
There are now 23 Massachusetts communities considered at “high risk” for coronavirus spread, according to the latest COVID risk assessment map published by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.
Communities now in the red category, which have had more than 8 new daily cases per 100,000 residents over the last 14 days, include Attleboro, Avon, Boston, Chelsea, Dracut, Everett, Framingham, Haverhill, Holliston, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Lynnfield, Marlborough, Methuen, Middleton, Nantucket, New Bedford, North Andover, Revere, Springfield, Winthrop and Worcester, according to DPH. Read the full story here: https://www.masslive.com/coronavirus/2020/09/boston-is-now-one-of-23-massachusetts-communities-considered-high-risk-for-covid-spread-according-to-state-map.html
As of today there are currently 1167 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 has now experienced a total of 9,315 deaths among the 132,905 confirmed Covid-19 cases.