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
Massachusetts eases COVID-19 seating rules for restaurants to begin Sept 28.
Massachusetts remains in the first step of Phase 3 of the state’s reopening plan — but Gov. Charlie Baker is slightly loosening restrictions on restaurants, following several weeks of consistently low statewide COVID-19 levels.
During a press conference Wednesday morning at a Lowell barbecue spot, Baker announced that the state will allow restaurants to seat customers in groups of up to 10 — an increase from the previous limit of six people per table — beginning Monday, Sept. 28. Read the full story here: https://www.boston.com/news/restaurants/2020/09/23/massachusetts-resaurant-seating-rules-coronavirus
For the full list of updated sector specific workplace safety standards for restaurants click here: https://www.mass.gov/doc/sector-specific-workplace-safety-standards-phase-iii-step-1-for-restaurants-to-address-covid-0/download
Massachusetts removes Oregon from quarantine exemption list
Several other states on the lower-risk list also appear to be on the verge.
The list of exemptions from the out-of-state travel rules in Massachusetts continues to shrink.
The state’s Department of Public Health announced Friday afternoon that it is putting Oregon back on the list of higher-risk states subject to its quarantine travel rules. That means most people coming or returning from Oregon will have to self-quarantine for 14 days or be able provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test administered within the previous 72 hours upon arriving in Massachusetts — or face a potential $500 fine. Read the full story here: https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/09/25/massachusetts-quarantine-rules-oregon
As of today there are currently 1117 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/
Massachusetts has now experienced a total of 9,160 deaths among the 127,317 confirmed Covid-19 cases.