Dunn: State Must Ramp Up New Bedford COVID Testing [OPINION]
Though we are seeing a massive spike in COVID-19 cases across the Commonwealth, New Bedford has remained one of the hardest-hit communities by the virus throughout the entire duration of the pandemic.
Among the many precautions taken, testing sites remain an indispensable tool in the effort to perform effective contract tracing so we can stop the spread. Thus, the Commonwealth s Department of Health and Human Services has set up regional testing sites in high-risk communities, such as the one located at the Whale s Tooth parking lot in New Bedford.
The volume in this parking lot has been extraordinarily high, averaging about 800-1,000 tests per day, until a new testing service provider took over, implemented a by-appointment-only model which makes testing less accessible, and now they are starting testing with only 300-400 tests per day.