Positive Coronavirus Cases Plummet In Salem Rapid Testing

Salem MA

25 October, 2021

10:15 AM

Description

SALEM, MA — Rapid coronavirus testing at the downtown Salem site on Essex Street detected only three positive cases out of 872 tests administered from Oct. 20 to Oct. 23. The 0.3 positive rate was the lowest for any four-day stretch at the site since it opened on Sept. 30. The city reported 10 positive cases found last week — making it 38 since the test site at the Peabody Essex Museum's Connect Building opened — with the positive test rate falling from 2.65 percent in the first three days to 0.9 percent in tests from Oct. 13 to Oct. 16 and then 0.3 percent this past week. The Peabody Essex Museum is hosting the test site at the Connect Building at 135 Essex Street with Curative — the company that ran the mass vaccination site at the Danvers DoubleTree Hotel last winter and spring — conducting the free testing. The Salem Board of Health unanimously approved the negative test order for indoor events at venues open to the public from Oct. 1 through Oct.31. Anyone attending a Halloween-themed ball, large party, wedding reception or other similar events with 100 or more guests must receive a negative virus test regardless of whether they are vaccinated or not for entry. The Board of Health order states tests must be administered within 72 hours of attending the event. Self-administered or over-the-counter test results are not acceptable for admission. The rapid test site will be open from noon to 8 p.m. on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays beginning through Oct. 30. The site will also be open on Halloween until 5 p.m. Venues hosting these events have been strongly encouraged to contact all ticket holders to inform them of the new testing mandate so they can arrange for a test prior to coming to Salem if they are from out of town. Salem also offers free "Stop the Spread" testing at St. Peter's Church and Salem High School. Salem also has an indoor mask mandate, which began on Aug. 23 and is set to expire on Nov. 13. Did you find this article useful? Invite a friend to subscribe to Patch. (Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at [email protected]. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.) More Patch Coverage: Salem's 2021 Halloween Resurrection Kicks Off With Grand Parade Salem Halloween: What To Know If You Are Headed To The Witch City