Salem Offers More Free COVID-19 Rapid Tests As Cases Rise

SALEM, MA — The Salem Health Department is offering additional free at-home COVID-19 tests to residents and those who work in the city.

Residents and employees are eligible for up to three boxes (two tests per box) and can pick them up at the Health Department offices on the third floor at 98 Washington Street Mondays through Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Thursdays from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Tests are available while supplies last.

Gov. Charlie Baker said earlier this week that an additional five million rapid tests were being distributed to food pantries, cities and towns across the state as students return to school and the fall — where coronavirus rates have risen each of the past two years — begins.

Salem reported an increase in the weekly test-positive rate on Thursday to 9.31 percent. There were 129 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed over the past two weeks.

(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.)