Salem Expands Coronavirus Testing In Schools, Sewers

SALEM, MA —Salem announced several new coronavirus testing initiatives on Tuesday that include expanding the testing opportunities for teachers, first responders and municipal employees, a rapid testing program for symptomatic students and school staff and the testing of wastewater as a way to target increases in the virus in certain neighborhoods.

City officials said Salem Public Schools, Salem police, Salem fire and municipal employees are eligible to participate in an expanded pooled testing program being conducted weekly through the company Mirimus.

Salem will be the second school district in Massachusetts — after Wellesley — to offer this testing option to all school employees and in-person high school students.

The district was also chosen as one of 134 in the state eligible for rapid testing for symptomatic individuals in schools.

"We are excited to launch testing for all staff and some students across our schools as it is an important aspect of our multi-faceted effort to continue and expand in-person learning during the current school year," said Dr. Stephen Zrike, Superintendent of Public Schools. "We appreciate the support and partnership of the city of Salem as we take every step to keep our children and employees safe during these extraordinary times."

The city also recently began testing wastewater as a means to determine virus levels in certain neighborhoods. The testing, which began on Nov. 23, is being done in conjunction with the Massachusetts of Public Health.

Officials said results will be monitored weekly and residents will be notified of any increases in neighborhood levels so those residents can be individually tested.

"Salem takes COVID-19 seriously, and we have from the outset," Mayor Kim Driscoll said. "As more testing options become available to us — from broad-based surveillance tools to more individualized tests — we are working to deploy them to ensure our schools and City workplaces are safe, to protect the health of our residents and high-risk populations especially, and to help curtail the further spread of this deadly virus across our community.

"I encourage all Salem residents to explore the testing options available to them. Together, we can help slow the transmission of COVID-19 in Salem so our schools and small businesses can reopen again safely for everyone."

Stop the Spread testing sites at Salem High and Old Town Hall will continue to operate for anyone wanting a test, while tests for Salem residents only will be held at the Mayor Jean Levesque Community Life Center on Bridge Street at days and times to be announced.

Residents at that site will be required to register for an appointment.

The city said the increased testing opportunities led to a 56 percent increase in tests in November.

There have been 44,822 tests on Salem residents as part of the "Stop the Spread" campaign, according to the city.