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Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Openings of Free COVID-19 Testing Sites in Saugus as Part of a Partnership for “Stop the Spread” Initiative - August 25, 2020

Posted on: August 25, 2020 - 2:55pm

Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree Announces Openings of Free COVID-19 Testing Sites in Saugus as Part of a Partnership for “Stop the Spread” Initiative

Efforts Underway to Prioritize Residents’ Safety, Downgrade Saugus From “High Risk” Status

(Saugus, MA) August 25, 2020 – Saugus Town Manager Scott C. Crabtree, the Saugus Board of Health and the Saugus Health Department announce the openings of two free COVID-19 testing sites throughout the community as part of a partnership with the Commonwealth of Massachusetts’ “Stop the Spread” initiative, which aims to help mitigate the spread of the virus in high risk communities and prioritize residents’ safety.

The Town of Saugus has partnered with the Commonwealth, AFC Urgent Care, Fallon Emergency Medical Services (EMS), and the Square One Mall as a collaborative effort to work to downgrade the Town’s newly designated “High Risk” COVID-19 status by establishing the following COVID-19 testing sites in Saugus:

AFC Urgent Care, located at 371 Broadway, is currently offering free testing by appointment on Saturdays and Sundays from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Please register online at afcurgentcaresaugus.com. Call (781) 233-1000 for more information.

Fallon EMS at the Square One Mall (Far Side Parking Lot on Essex Street), located at 1201 Broadway with entry off of Essex Street, will offer free mobile drive-up testing in for Saugus residents in their cars Monday through Saturday from 2 p.m. to 7 p.m.  The free mobile testing site is scheduled to open tomorrow, Wednesday afternoon 2 p.m., August 26, 2020.  No appointment is needed.  Residents’ drive-up and register using a tablet when they arrive.  Saugus Police will be assisting with traffic.  The testing site will be staffed by 10-12 individuals to handle registrations.  All samples go directly to the Broad Institution in Cambridge for immediate testing with a 24-36 hour turnaround time.  Notification of results will be made for negative results via emails while phone calls will be made for positive COVID-19 results.

This information will be on the Town’s website and on the state’s website: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread?rgja#saugus-

The MDPH has notified the Town of Saugus of 639 confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the community. According to the Saugus Health Department, this includes 40 deaths in Saugus. Our hearts and prayers go out to those families affected by this global pandemic.     

Massachusetts health officials have announced as of August 24, 2020, 27 more people have died in the Commonwealth after contracting COVID-19, bringing the state total deaths from the virus to 8,717.  In addition, there were 571 newly reported cases. So far, 116,421 cases in total have been confirmed while 1,581,978 people have been tested for the virus.

Massachusetts Governor Charlie Baker recently revealed a new metric for tracking the virus’ spread locally, which displays the number of cases detected on average each day over the previous two weeks in each community within the State. More than 8 cases per 100,000 translates to a high risk, between 4 and 8 cases per 100,000 is classified as moderate risk, and less than 4 cases per 100,000 is considered low risk.

Cities and towns with the highest risk levels have been shaded red on the State’s COVID-19 map. Saugus has been upgraded and has remained a high-risk community and shaded red on the State’s new COVID-19 map based on the average daily incidence rate over the previous two weeks. 

The Board of Health and the Saugus Health Department have partnered with the State and are working on a planned response to the COVID-19, which includes the openings of local testing sites. The Town and State will continue to analyze the data from the past couple of weeks and continue to develop specific strategies to combat the spread through additional enforcement and intervention measures. 

“We need to do whatever is necessary to keep ourselves, family, neighbors, and communities safe,” said Town Manager Crabtree. “Please continue to wear your masks, wash hands, avoid gatherings, and continue to follow the CDC and MDPH guidelines.”

The Saugus Health Department strongly believes that additional unrecognized cases DO exist in Saugus.  Due to the fact that they are undetected, some of these infected individuals may not be properly isolated or quarantined, which is why Governor Baker’s directive is to wear a cloth face cover over their face when around others, practice social distancing, avoid gatherings, and follow the CDC and MDPH guidance. 

Please continue to follow guidance from Governor Baker, the CDC and MDPH to prevent COVID-19 illness by:

  • Wash your hands often for at least 20 seconds;
  • Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth;
  • Keep at least 6 feet between yourself and others; and
  • Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others.

Please do your part to stay safe and do not hesitate to call the Town with any needs.  The Town and its staff are here to assist you.

For more information, contact the Saugus Health Department at 781-231-4117 and/or the Town Manager’s office at 781-231-4111.