SAUGUS — The state is downsizing its Stop the Spread (STS) testing program due to a significant decline in the demand of testing sites and the increased availability of rapid antigen tests.
The STS Saugus site will end on April 1, as the STS program decreases from 41 sites to 11 sites across the commonwealth.
Saugus will, however, receive 2,160 at-home tests at the end of March, as the state recently announced the purchase of 26 million COVID-19 at-home rapid antigen tests.
Board of Selectmen Vice Chair Debra Panetta said these tests will definitely help the community.
“The need (for testing sites) has drastically decreased,” Panetta said. “I think that we just need to be diligent and people still need to continue to be careful. We don’t want to see another rise in cases and I think that’s the most important thing.”
As of March 1, Massachusetts’ seven-day average of cases reported is down 96 percent from its peak in January of this year and overall positivity rate is less than 2 percent.
Over the past two months, the STS sites have seen an 80 percent decrease in volume since the beginning of January, as the state has seen positive trends in COVID-19 metrics.
Panetta said she is glad the town is getting the 2,000 at-home tests and that’s important, but if there is another surge, the state should take another look at reopening the Saugus testing site.
Communities that will transition from state-sponsored STS testing locations will receive some of these tests based on STS volumes over two weeks in February.
Supply is intended to provide a month’s bridge during this transition.
The STS testing initiative was created by the Baker-Polito administration at the beginning of the pandemic to respond rapidly to the surge in COVID-19 positive cases and offer free access to COVID-19 testing when there were very few testing options.
Since the start of STS in July 2020, this program has provided more than 4 million tests to residents at 41 locations.
As of April 1, 11 STS sites will continue to offer PCR testing, including Lynn, through at least May 15. The remaining locations were selected based on demonstrated need, volume of daily testing, and geographic equity.
From Jan. 20 to Feb. 16, the 11 sites accounted for nearly 72 percent of all STS testing volume.
In addition to the STS sites, there are more than 450 locations across the state for residents to get tested for COVID-19, which can be found at www.mass.gov/gettested.
COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home test kits can also be purchased from numerous locations, including CVS and Walgreens, and through other retailers like Amazon or Walmart.
Tests can also be distributed through employers, municipal programs, school districts and other community partners.
COVID-19 rapid antigen at-home tests are now also covered by insurance, so health-insurance companies will cover eight over-the-counter at-home tests per covered individual per month; MassHealth members are included.
The federal government also made at-home rapid tests available to all residents through a web-based platform that can be ordered from the COVID Home Tests | USPS.
