Worcester Coronavirus Testing: Hours For Christmas, New Year's

WORCESTER, MA — Local residents will have four opportunities to get a free coronavirus PCR test in Worcester over the Christmas and New Year's holidays.

The UMass Memorial testing center is located at the Mercantile Center, 201 Commercial St. Demand for tests has been rising in recent weeks along with cases as the omicron and delta variants continue to spread.

If you want a test before Christmas, hours are:

• Dec. 21 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

If you want a test before New Year's, hours are:

• Dec. 27 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• Dec. 28 — 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Local residents do not have to make an appointment to test at the Mercantile Center.

Worcester has also received an allotment of about 67,000 rapid antigen tests from the state. Those tests are typically less reliable than the PCR tests at the Mercantile Center, but can be used as a guide. A number of organizations around Worcester are giving out the rapid tests. Find the full list here.

Worcester will also have three vaccination clinics over the next two weeks. The first will happen Monday evening behind City Hall from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. during a vigil for the homeless. The main Worcester Public Library, 3 Salem Square, will also host two walk-in vaccine clinics on Dec. 22 and Dec. 29 between 11 a.m. and 7 p.m. Find out more about vaccines here.