SWAMPSCOTT — The new drive-through COVID-19 testing location at the Veterans Memorial Field House on 585 Humphrey St. has seen a lot of action in the past week.
The new site has tested about 125 people a day, with a maximum of 300 people on one day, an increase from previous months.
Town Administrator Sean Fitzgerald said that the increase in testing is likely a result of increased “public concern” over the virus following the Thanksgiving spike in new COVID-19 cases.
“We’re really trying to encourage people to get out and test,” said Fitzgerald.
There were 134 new cases confirmed in the last two weeks, with 69 in the last week alone. This more than doubled that weekly high of 27 new cases, from the first wave of COVID-19 back in April.
The town has partnered with Cataldo Ambulance to offer free testing to residents. Until Dec 5, the testing was offered at the First Church on Monument Avenue, but has since shifted to the Phillips Field House at 585 Humphrey St.
The shift in testing sites was a result of traffic-related issues with the First Church site.
“There’s not really an ideal testing site in Swampscott,” Fiztgerald said. “But (this site) has a big parking lot and we were able to get a lot of cars off Humphrey Street in queue.”
The testing has been coordinated by Emergency Management Director and Fire Chief Graham Archer, Health Director Jeff Vaughan and Public Health Nurse Neia Illingworth.
The tests are paid for with the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding, which is set to expire at the end of the year. It would cost the town approximately $1,446,000 to continue testing six days a week through June, and approximately $241,000 to test only one day a week.
“While needed, the town simply does not have these funds available to support this need,” said Fitzgerald. “We’re hoping the state and federal government will help subsidize continued testing because it’s the one way that we can track and lock down the transmission of this deadly virus.”
He predicts that, with the election of President-elect Joe Biden, an increase in funding could become more likely.
“I think with the change in Washington, we’re going to see some more funding opportunities and a greater coordination between state and federal officials,” he said.
The form of testing offered is a PCR (polymerase chain reaction) test, which is a less invasive nasal swab. Testing is open to residents of all ages.
Testing is Monday through Friday from 2:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon.
Guthrie Scrimgeour can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Twitter @g_scrimgeour.
