Salem Adds Coronavirus Test Date On Tuesday

SALEM, MA —Salem has scheduled two additional coronavirus test dates for city residents amid the omicron variant spike and testing limitations at other regional sites.

The city will host resident-only testing on Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. and Tuesday from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Community Life Center on Bridge Street. Pre-registration is required and walk-ins will not be accepted.

No proof of insurance or citizenship is required, but proof of residency is and should be brought to the testing. Residents can sign up here.

Cataldo Ambulance will administer the tests with results emailed within 24 to 48 hours.

The city plans additional test opportunities in the upcoming weeks.

"With the rapid rise in COVID-19 cases following the holidays we are working hard to try to ensure that every Salem resident who needs a test is able to get one," Mayor Kim Driscoll. "The demand for testing is extremely high right now, so I encourage residents to be patient and only seek testing if they absolutely need it.

"Together we can help keep one another safe, reduce the likelihood of additional spread of the virus, and lessen the significant burden currently facing our hospitals and frontline healthcare
workers."

Testing opportunities have taken a hit in the city in recent days with the Curative test site at Riley Plaza reduced to three days this week because of staff shortages and the state "Stop the Spread" site at Salem High School closed Wednesday because of rain and will be closed Friday because of snow.

Officials said that testing site will also be closed on a daily basis if the car line becomes too overwhelming on Wilson Street.

(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.)