Salem 'Stop The Spread' Coronavirus Test Sites To Stay Open

SALEM, MA — With coronavirus vaccinations rising and business restrictions easing, testing will still a big part of the state's virus mitigation strategy through this spring and summer.

Gov. Charlie Baker said because of that the free "Stop The Spread" sites will be extended three more months through September. Salem has "Stop The Spread" sites at Salem High School and a walk-in clinic at Old Town Hall.

"Testing remains a critical surveillance tool to keep the virus in check as we go forward," Baker said during his Wednesday news conference. "We thank people for continuing to get tested."

Baker said 42,000 people were tested for the virus statewide on Tuesday — raising the total to more than 22 million tests administered since they began last spring.

"Stop the Spread has been a crucial part of the Commonwealth's testing success," Baker said. "More than 2.3 million tests have been conducted as part of that program alone. ... It remains an important tool in the battle against COVID."

There are 35 "Stop the Spread" testing sites across the state.

As of Tuesday, the positive test rate in Massachusetts was 1.32 percent — down from a high of 8 percent early in January. Tuesday was the first day since June 30, 2020 that the state reported no coroanvirus-related deaths.

"Obviously, any day that COVID doesn't take a life is worth noting," Baker said, crediting the vaccines with the dramatic drops in deaths over the past few months.

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(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.)

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