Framingham Searching For New Walk-Up Coronavirus Test Site

FRAMINGHAM, MA — Framingham officials say they are looking for a new walk-up coronavirus testing site following the Dec. 30 closure of the site at the South Middlesex Opportunity Council (SMOC) building downtown.

Framingham Chief Operating Officer Thatcher Kezer told the City Council Tuesday the city is looking for a large indoor facility somewhere in the city that will allow test-takers to enter and exit separately.

"If we can locate such a site, the Commonwealth will cover all the testing costs, but the city would have to cover any of the logistical costs," Kezer said.

The SMOC site and a drive-up site at the TJX headquarters closed in early December. Both were funded through the state's Stop the Spread program. The state then opened a new site along Franklin Street, which offers drive-up tests by appointment-only — and appointments can only be made online.

Framingham reopened the SMOC site on Dec. 18 using federal stimulus money. The site was for residents only, and closed at the end of December.

The Project Beacon site at 484 Franklin St. is open every day by appointment, and can handle about 1,000 tests per day, according to officials.