Health & Fitness
How To Get A Free Coronavirus Test In Worcester
The state has expanded its free coronavirus testing program to Worcester. People who may be asymptomatic are encouraged to get tested.
WORCESTER, MA — Worcester is one of eight communities across the state that will get free coronavirus testing, an expansion of a state effort to detect people who may have coronavirus, but are asymptomatic.
The Worcester testing site opened Monday at AFC Urgent Care, 117 Stafford St. Testing will be held noon to 5 p.m. on weekdays, and you must sign up for an appointment online before you go.
Eight communities were initially chosen for the state's "Stop the Spread" free testing program, including Marlborough, Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn and New Bedford.Eight new communities were added over the weekend, including Methuen, Everett, Agawam, Brockton, Revere, Springfield and Taunton.
READ: Massachusetts COVID-19 Case Counts On The Rise Again
The communities were chosen due to high local positive test rates, according to the state Department of Public Health.
Worcester has seen an uptick in new coronavirus cases recently. The city added 63 new cases for the week ending July 23. That comes after two weeks of cases declining, and was the largest increase since the week ending July 2, when the city added 75 new cases.
Cases are also starting to tick up across the state. Health officials reported over 500 new cases between Saturday and Sunday. In a tweet, Massachusetts Medical Society President David Rosman suggested the state revert to phase 2 of the reopening plan.
Beginning Aug. 1, a new local travel ban will go into effect in Massachusetts. Anyone coming into Massachusetts from another state, including residents, will have to quarantine for 14 days, unless they test negative within 72 hours or arriving. Anyone who disobeys can be hit with a $500 per day penalty. The travel restriction does not apply to people traveling from other states in New Enland, plus New Jersey and New York.
