STOP THE SPREAD TESTING SITES EXTENDED TESTING THROUGH OCT. 31ST
*BOTH HOLYOKE STOP THE SPREAD TESTING SITES WILL BE OPEN ON OCTOBER 12, 2020*
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
MA Coronavirus Numbers Continue Increase As Reopening Moves Ahead
Monday’s report showed a positive test rate at 4.1 percent and 20 more deaths across the state.
More than 4 percent of coronavirus tests Sunday came back positive for the highly contagious virus as medical and political leaders express concern about the state’s continued reopening.
Monday’s daily coronavirus report showed 465 confirmed across 11,265 molecular tests, a 4.1 percent positivity rate. The seven-day positive test rate has been at 1.1 percent for a week.
Twenty more deaths were reported, bringing the total to 9,315 since the start of the pandemic. The number of people hospitalized with the virus increased by 35, bringing the total to 473 — the highest in weeks — while the three-day average is at 442. The lowest three-day average of hospitalized patients was 302. Read the full story here: https://patch.com/massachusetts/boston/massachusetts-coronavirus-continues-keep-soaring-state-reopens
As of today there are currently 1183 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 the state has not released the latest reports for positive cases and deaths in MA. As of yesterday, Massachusetts had experienced a total of 9,323 deaths among the 133,359 confirmed Covid-19 cases.