Salem Asks All Residents To Get 2 Coronavirus Tests In November

SALEM, MA — Salem officials have gone from telling people to stay away from downtown all month in October to asking them to come on down and get a coronavirus test in November and December.

As part of its "Knowvember" campaign starting Monday, the city is asking every resident to commit to getting at least two free coronavirus tests in November, and again in December. The testing is part of the city's "Stop the Spread" initiative and is an effort to make asymptomatic carriers of the virus aware they are infected so they can isolate or quarantine.

Testing hours at the Old Town Hall in Downtown Salem are expanded to 9 a.m. to 2 pm. Mondays through Wednesdays, Thursdays from 1 to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The testing at Salem High School will run from 4 to 8 p.m. on weekdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The hours will be in effect through Dec. 31, 2020 and will be closed on holidays.

Read this and get tested twice per month! pic.twitter.com/5a3EAvvyob
— Kim Driscoll (@MayorDriscoll) November 2, 2020

The city will also hold a public online town hall-style forum on Nov. 12 at 6 p.m. where members of the community can submit questions for panelists who include: Mayor Kim Driscoll, North Shore Medical Center president and CEO Dr. David Roberts, Health Agent David Greenbaum and Director of Planning and Community Development Tom Daniel.

The town hall will be streamed live here and on the city's Facebook page here.

Questions can be submitted live during the town hall on the city's website and can be emailed to mayor@salem.com.