LYNN — The delivery of two new trailers next week will enable the Lynn Community Health Center to continue offering outdoor COVID-19 testing this winter.
The 60-foot trailers, which will be delivered to the health center’s new testing site on Buffum Street next Thursday, will replace the tents that are currently used to protect patients and staff from the elements.
The move, approved by both the Lynn City Council and Off-Street Parking Commission, became necessary after the building located on their current site in the Element Care parking lot, 9 Buffum St., was sold, according to Dr. Geoffrey Pechinsky, LCHC chief medical officer.
Pechinsky said that regardless of what happened with the property, the health center was planning to move to a bigger site that was more conducive to having trailers during the winter months.
Fortunately, there won’t be much of an adjustment for residents, as the new site is located across the street in the Buffum Street parking lot.
With the cold and flu season coupled with an anticipated second wave of COVID-19 approaching, Pechinsky said the new, expanded walk-through site — slated to open later this month — will enable the health center to test up to 500 patients a day.
“We have structured our staffing and operations to meet the demand for testing as it rises and falls in the community,” said Kim Eng, LCHC chief operating officer. “We are currently conducting between 150 and 200 tests per day, but at our peak in August we conducted over 300 tests per day. We anticipate our numbers will rise again as more people return to work, combined with the onset of cooler weather and flu seasons.”
The trailers will be set up along the Blake Street side of the lot directly across from the health center. Patients will enter the site through the gate across from the Mulberry Street alleyway and enter the first trailer for registration. They will exit the first trailer and enter the second trailer for testing.
After being tested, they will leave the second trailer and leave the site through the gate across from the LCHC entrance. Patients will adhere to one-way movement throughout the site, which will be put in place to support social distancing efforts. The testing site will take up 30 parking spaces, according to information provided by LCHC.
Until the new site opens, LCHC will continue to offer COVID-19 testing seven days a week at 9 Buffum St. Testing is currently free at the site as part of the state’s “Stop the Spread” initiative, which targets high-risk communities and has been extended through the end of the month.
“Our hope is that the state continues free testing,” said Pechinsky. “If somebody has symptoms that could be consistent with COVID — if the testing is easily and readily available, it’s worth it to just come in and get tested because if you’re positive, you can take appropriate measures to quarantine. It would really help us, as a society, to at least keep things at the point they’re at right now.”
Although Lynn’s current virus surge is not as prominent as the level of new cases that was seen in the city during a previous surge last spring, Pechinsky said the city continues to consistently be significantly higher than the state average in terms of positive test rates.
He stressed the importance of continuing to follow COVID-19 safety precautions — such as hand washing, mask wearing, social distancing and avoiding large gatherings — as health experts anticipate there could be uptick in cases as people move indoors during the colder weather.
“(We want to) keep it at bay until we have a cure,” said Pechinsky. “COVID-19 is still a serious concern in our community and is likely to remain so for a long time. The seven-day average positivity rate in Lynn is 7.9 percent, significantly higher than the state average of 1.1 percent.
“We are working very closely with the city to encourage people to get tested any time they feel unwell or are concerned about exposure. Some people, for example those whose jobs put them at high risk of exposure, should get tested regularly. We are happy to do repeat tests as needed.”
People can walk in for a test or call (781) 581-3900 for a scheduled appointment. Visit www.lchcnet.org for testing hours. Anyone can receive a test regardless of symptoms or exposure, and people do not need to be LCHC patients or Lynn residents to get tested.
