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
Massachusetts Issues Guidelines for Thanksgiving Gatherings
The state recommends that families should only gather with members of their household or else hold a virtual gathering with other members of their family
The state has issued specific guidelines for Thanksgiving during COVID-19, suggesting that families should only gather with members of their household, or else hold a virtual gathering with other members of their family.
“This is the best way to avoid bringing this terrible virus to your grandparents, parents and loved ones,” Baker said. “If you gather with people outside your household, limit guests as much as possible and keep it to your limited social network, who you see on a regular basis.”
Last year, the governor said Thanksgiving at his house was “18 people crowded around a table that probably fit comfortably around 12, followed by naps on the couch and football games no one watched. It was a long day with a whole bunch of people, all under one roof. That is what Thanksgiving is for most of us here in Massachusetts, and has been for as long as we can remember.” Read the full story here: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local/massachusetts-issues-guidelines-for-thanksgiving-gatherings/2219171/
Neighboring States Issue Travel Restrictions for Mass.: Here’s What to Know
In the midst of a steady resurgence, Massachusetts coronavirus metrics now meet the criteria for certain travel advisories in other states
With a recent spike in coronavirus cases, Massachusetts now meets the criteria for certain travel advisories. It was not added to New York’s quarantine list, but was added to Connecticut’s and New Jersey’s.
With COVID-19 cases spiking in Massachusetts, neighboring states are issuing new coronavirus rules and advisories for people traveling to and from the Bay State.
Connecticut and New Jersey have added Massachusetts to their quarantine lists. Officials in New York, meanwhile, are urging people who travel to the nearby state to use caution.
Massachusetts was added to Connecticut’s COVID-19 travel advisory list Tuesday, bringing the total number of states and territories considered hot spots by that state to 42.
“The positivity rate — that’s impactful,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. “It’s a trend that’s going on and we’re watching it carefully. Not unexpected but we have to be cautious.” Read the full story here: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/neighboring-states-issue-travel-restrictions-on-massachusetts-heres-what-to-know/2219525/
15 Holyoke Medical Center employees test positive for COVID-19
Several employees at Holyoke Medical Center are recovering from COVID-19. The CEO of the hospital believes the outbreak is linked to employees taking their lunch break together.
Western Mass News got answers from the CEO who said this is the first time a cluster of employees have tested positive for the coronavirus at the hospital. More than a dozen employees are on the road to recovery after testing positive for the coronavirus.
CEO Spiros Hatiras said 15 employees tested positive about two weeks ago. “We think we traced it back to employees eating a meal together in a break room, and obviously when you are eating a meal, you take your mask off and they contracted it from one employee who was positive,” Hatiras said.
Many have heard of coronavirus fatigue where people become lax about wearing personal protective equipment. Holyoke Medical Center is making sure their employees continue to follow COVID-19 safety precautions by putting new rules in place. Read the full story here: https://www.westernmassnews.com/news/15-holyoke-medical-center-employees-test-positive-for-covid-19/article_e2f5f840-17d5-11eb-b0c0-3b086cbe062c.html
Mass. to Release Updated Coronavirus Risk Map; New Details on Clusters Expected
Gov. Charlie Baker said Tuesday that this week’s report will include “more data around COVID clusters and where the new cases are coming from.”
This week’s report from the Department of Public Health was revamped to include data on isolated outbreaks, requiring its release to be moved back from Wednesdays to Thursdays. This is the first week of the new version.
Massachusetts’ latest weekly community-level data on the coronavirus pandemic is expected to be released Thursday afternoon, including an updated town-by-town risk assessment map.
Last week’s report from the state Department of Public Health was revamped to include data on isolated outbreaks, requiring its release to be moved back from Wednesdays to Thursdays. The report showed 77 communities considered at the highest risk for transmitting COVID-19, an increase of 14 from the previous week.
In addition to updating the list of high-risk communities, Gov. Charlie Baker said this week’s report will include “more data around COVID clusters and where the new cases are coming from.”
The recent surge in confirmed coronavirus cases in Massachusetts is being driven in large part by an increase among younger people, Baker said Tuesday.
Whereas 15% of new cases in April were among people under age 30, now 37% of the new confirmed cases are people in that age group, the Republican governor said at a news conference at which he urged people to stop partying. Read the full story here: https://www.nbcboston.com/news/coronavirus/mass-to-release-updated-coronavirus-risk-map-new-details-on-clusters-expected/2220275/
As of today there are currently 1353 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 9,727 deaths among the 151,741 confirmed Covid-19 cases.