HAVERHILL — As local COVID-19 cases rise, Superintendent Maureen Lynch wishes to share information on free testing opportunities for students and staff to help reduce the spread of the virus in the community.
The Massachusetts Department of Public Health issues a weekly update with the latest positive case numbers in each municipality statewide, and designates cities and towns as “grey,” “green,” “yellow” or “red” depending on the amount of community spread. Today, Haverhill has been designated by the state as a “red” community due to an increase in recent positive COVID-19 cases in the city.
The “red” designation means there are more than eight positive cases per 100,000 people. For the latest weekly update, click here.
As a result of the rise of positive cases, the Massachusetts Department of Public Health has organized two pop-up testing locations to facilitate access to testing, and all residents are encouraged to get tested, at no cost, whether they are symptomatic or asymptomatic. No insurance is required to get tested and the tests are free, no ID is required and only a name and phone number is needed to receive results. People can either walk-up or drive-up to the site for testing, and no appointment is necessary.
Testing is being conducted at the Locke Street parking lot, next to 125 Winter Street beginning today through Tuesday, Oct. 6 after which time testing will be available at the parking lot at 358 Washington Street, in front of Somebody Cares Food Pantry, from Wednesday, Oct.7 through Wednesday, Oct. 14. Both sites will be open from 1-6 p.m., excluding Sundays.
Whittier Tech has also partnered with Pentucket Medical Associates at 1 Park Way in Haverhill to further facilitate access to testing for students and staff for the remainder of the school year. The district’s health office will be able to provide COVID-19 testing referrals for all students and staff. Those with questions about testing at Pentucket Medical Associates are encouraged to contact the district’s Health Office 978-373-4101 extension 206 or 221.
“We strongly encourage students and staff to take advantage of this opportunity– testing is an essential tool at our disposal as our community continues to face COVID-19, and having free access to it can make a tremendous difference in identifying those who may be carrying the virus unknowingly,” Superintendent Lynch said. “We’re thankful to the Department of Public Health for offering local pop-up testing sites and Pentucket Medical Associates for working with us to make sure testing is available to students and staff on a long term basis as well.”
For the latest updates, visit the District’s website here and/or follow the District on Twitter @WhittierTechHS and Facebook @WhittierTech.
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