Health & Fitness

Coronavirus: South Shore Health Opens Mobile Testing Center

Drive-through center in Weymouth will be available by appointment-only to relieve pressure on South Shore Hospital's emergency room.

WEYMOUTH, MA — South Shore Health has opened a drive-through coronavirus testing site at Union Point in Weymouth to help ease the burden on the Short Shore Hospital emergency room and help protect health workers at the hospital. Only patients who have been pre-screened and meet state testing guidelines will be registered and given an appointment at the Union Point location.

South Shore Health said those who want to be tested for the new coronavirus should first call their primary care physician unless it is an emergency. That will help ensure the testing is appropriate and will help reduce exposure to workers and patients at the hospital.

"We thank all of our patients and families for their understanding as we work to ensure the safety of our community during this challenging time," South Shore Health said in a statement.

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Massachusetts continues to add labs to process tests for the coronavirus and has completed 3,000 additional tests since Sunday, Gov. Charlie Baker said in his daily press briefing Tuesday. The state has added 10 additional labs around the state and had conducted about 9,000 tests as of Tuesday, up from 6,000 Sunday.

"This is big progress from where we were even a week ago," Baker said. The governor reiterated his warning that as more people are tested, more cases will be reported. The U.S. recorded its 600th coronavirus fatality and the World Health Organization warned the deaths and infections will "increase considerably" going forward.

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