Page 4 - Stop The Spread News Today

     COVID-19 testing capacity is being expanded in the largest city in western Massachusetts.      The city of Springfield is planning to open a COVID-19 testing site at the Putnam Vocational Technical High School.  It will be for city residents who want to get tested whether they have symptoms or not, according to the city’s Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris.      "Right now, the only other testing site is at Eastfield Mall and there are long lines th...

The Baker administration has unveiled a map identifying locations where Massachusetts residents may roll up their sleeves for the COVID-19 vaccine --  and not one of them is located anywhere near Fall River, New Bedford, or Cape Cod. "Its outrageous," New Bedford Mayor Jon Mitchell told WBSMs Barry Richard today. "Im at a loss. When I first saw the map, I thought they must have made some sort of mistake. But theres no mistake. How on earth do you justify that decision?" Mitchell said New Bedfo...

Residents are taking precaution after potentially gathering for the holidays by receiving a COVID-19 test.

MetroWest and Greater Milford, along with the state in general, are coping with an ongoing surge in coronavirus cases.  More than 200 of the state’s 351 cities and towns are now at high risk for local spread of COVID-19.  In this region, most cities and towns are in the state’s coronavirus red zone, including Framingham, Milford, Marlborough, Hudson, Ashland, Holliston, Southborough, Bellingham, Franklin, Hopedale, Shrewsbury, Wayland, Uxbridge and Millis. Most others are in the yellow zo...

Jeannette Hinkle and Zane Razzaq Daily News Staff FRAMINGHAM — In a development that leaves a huge hole in the citys fight against the coronavirus, Director of Public Health Sam Wong confirmed he is taking a medical leave. “I’m exhausted,” Wong told the Daily News by phone on Wednesday. “I’m physically, mentally and even sometimes spiritually exhausted. I have given everything I’ve got for the city for the past 10 months and then some, and it has taken a toll on my health and it i...

FRAMINGHAM — A free walk-up COVID-19 test site in downtown Framingham will close after Wednesday because the citys contract with the testing provider is expiring. The test site, at the South Middlesex Opportunity Council on Bishop Street, was originally operated by the state through Gov. Charlie Bakers Stop The Spread initiative. But Framingham recently took over management of the site after the state closed the Bishop Street location in favor of opening a high-throughput, appointment-only,...

The program was created in July as a way to provide cost-free surveillance testing to areas with high transmission rates of the novel coronavirus.  Hinds said when it was announced over the summer, the Berkshire delegation was upset to see that there were not any sites in Berkshire County. The closest site for asymptomatic testing for some time was Springfield. "We felt it was important to make sure we had this type of a tool for the region," Hinds said. Berkshire Health Systems, in partne...