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/
What we learned from the new data on coronavirus clusters in Massachusetts; The biggest source? Household transmission.
Gov. Charlie Baker said earlier this month that Massachusetts residents should prepare to hear terms like “household spread” and “intergenerational spread” a lot this fall.
New coronavirus data released by state officials this week underscores why.
For this first time Thursday evening, the Department of Public Health’s more detailed weekly COVID-19 report included data on “clusters,” which are generally defined as instances where there are two or more coronavirus cases with a common exposure.
The report shows clusters originating from long-term care facilities, child care centers, schools, industrial workplaces, social gatherings, restaurants, organized sports, and numerous other types of settings over the past month. But far and away the most common source of COVID-19 clusters identified by the state were households.
According to the report Thursday, 3,854 — or 87.7 percent — of the 4,395 new and ongoing clusters identified between Sept. 27 and Oct. 24 were linked to residences, meaning the cases affected multiple people living at the same address (and were not associated with another cluster). In total, they accounted for 7,428 of the 9,391 cluster-linked cases, or roughly 79 percent. Read the full story here: https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/10/30/what-we-learned-from-the-new-data-on-coronavirus-clusters-in-massachusetts
As of today there are currently 1373 positive COVID cases in Holyoke ~2% 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 9,750 deaths among the 153,229 confirmed Covid-19 cases.