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
Wyoming has been removed from Massachusetts’ list of low-risk states
Starting Saturday, Massachusetts will no longer allow quarantine-free travel from a state that was recently declared to be of low risk.
Wyoming is now being removed from the list of low-risk states, according to an update Friday on Massachusetts’ COVID-19 travel order page, meaning travelers coming from there will once again be required to quarantine.
The change goes into effect at 12:01 a.m. on Sept. 19.
To be included on the list, states must have below six average daily cases per 100,000 people and rates of positive test rates below 5%.
Holyoke Now “In the Green”
Holyoke is now seeing fewer than 4 cases per 100,000 people daily. The “Average Daily Incidence Rate per 100,000” in Holyoke has dropped to 3.1, almost 2 full points from last week. Our “Percent Positivity” has dropped to less than one percent at .94%. It is still extremely important to wear masks, maintain social distancing, get tested, and to avoid social gatherings and events when possible.
The positive test rate for COVID-19 has stayed low in Mass. for weeks. An infectious disease expert explains the significance.
“It’s never going to be about one particular number.”
The average positive test rate for COVID-19 in Massachusetts has been garnering attention in recent weeks — for a good reason.
The state’s average positive test rate for coronavirus has remained under 1 percent since the start of September, prompting some to question whether the state should be moving forward through its next reopening phases. But when asked about the dipping positive test average in late August, Gov. Charlie Baker said the state would hold steady for the time being, to closely monitor the reopening of schools and colleges in Massachusetts. Read the full story here: https://www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/09/17/low-positive-test-rate-coronavirus-massachusetts
As of today there are currently 1099 positive COVID cases in Holyoke < 1% decrease
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 9,059 deaths among the 124,570 confirmed Covid-19 cases.