Memorandum
To: Mass Senior Care Members
From: Tara M. Gregorio, President
Re:
COVID-19 Updates: EOHHS Message on Surveillance Testing and Governor Baker Announces Offer Free COVID-19 Testing in Select Municipalities
Date: July 8, 2020
Long term care facilities are reminded to independently coordinate testing for staff and residents with a testing provider. The state has provided a
directory
of testing options that facilities may make use of.
Facilities should NOT send samples for surveillance testing to the State Public Health Lab.
Facilities should engage a testing provider and ensure that the appropriate business relationships are in place between the facility and the provider before sending samples. Facilities that wish to do their own collection with on-site medical staff should get test kits from their testing provider/lab. For assistance with selecting a testing provider, facilities should reach out to
Jennifer Chen
at MSCA.
Covid Cases Increasing in 8 Communities – Free Testing Offered
Governor Charlie Baker today announced that the state is offering free COVID-19 testing in eight municipalities that have continued to see a higher number of residents testing positive for COVID-19. The 8 municipalities are: Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lynn, Lowell, Marlborough, and New Bedford. Starting on Friday, testing centers in these communities will be available to
all
Massachusetts residents. Please click
here
for more information, including testing site locations.
