Peabody COVID-19 Test Site To Close In April

PEABODY, MA — One of the two Peabody COVID-19 test sites will close in April as the Peabody Health Department and partner Curative navigate a decline in virus cases and demand for PCR testing.

Peabody Health Department Director Sharon Cameron told Patch that Curative will keep its drive-up Centennial Park PCR test site open for the "foreseeable future" but will close the second Peabody site at Railroad Avenue as of April 12 because of lessening demand.

"It was important to them and to us that we maintain a presence in our downtown area to enable our residents without transportation to have access to a convenient site," Cameron told Patch. "We are currently working with them to identify a location to offer a pop-up testing site three mornings a week."

Cameron said the city will publicize the new site when it is identified.

Cameron said that the city and Curative will remain poised to act promptly in the event of another coronavirus surge or spike in cases.

"The Curative team has assured us that they have the ability to ramp back up and reinstall the kiosk at the Railroad Avenue site quickly in the event that we see an increased demand for testing services," Cameron said.

The state this week shut down the two Salem "Stop the Spread" testing sites at Salem High School and St. Peter's Church with Gov. Charlie Baker citing declining cases and the greater availability of at-home rapid tests.

The Curative mobile PCR test site at Riley Plaza in Salem will remain open Mondays through Saturdays through at least June 30.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)