SAUGUS — Free PCR testing will be available exclusively for Saugus residents through June 30 at the Saugus Senior Center, thanks to a grant from the Massachusetts Health Officers Association.
The free clinics opened on Tuesday, the town said in a statement. These clinics serve as a continuing resource for COVID-19 surveillance and response, and they are held as a series of drive-thru events on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Emergency Medical Technician Nancy Lanzillo said that nine people showed up for testing on Tuesday.
Lanzillo’s daughter, Faith Lanzillo, who is also an EMT, said that people who came for testing on the first day ranged from 4-years-old to 90-years-old. Residents will get their results in several days, either in an email or in a text message, Nancy Lanzillo said.
“It’s not a rapid test, we are going to be sending it to the Broad Institute lab, and they will get the results in 2-3 days through the email and the message on their phone,” said Nancy Lanzillo. “This test tends to be more accurate than the rapid one[s].”
Saugus will also be providing at-home rapid antigen tests to all participating residents with a maximum number of three tests per vehicle while supplies last.
Participants are reminded to have their state-issued IDs ready to show proof of residency, both at the drive-thru testing, and to receive rapid tests. The next testing date is June 16.
Instructions will be available on site in the event of any change in protocol. All residents that may have exposure concerns are asked to wear masks when interacting with the staff.
“The Town of Saugus asks for your continued vigilance as the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues to enter into an endemic phase,” the town said in a statement.
Although there were few residents who showed up for the first clinic this Tuesday, the Lanzillos hope that more people will come to the next testing events.
“Hopefully it picks up and more people will come in,” said Nancy Lanzillo.
Oksana Kotkina can be reached at [email protected].
