Deep Freeze Closes North Shore Coronavirus Test Sites

Salem MA

11 January, 2022

10:24 AM

Description

SALEM, MA — Tuesday's freezing temperatures added to another tough day for finding a PCR coronavirus test on the North Shore. The state said on Monday that the two "Stop the Spread" test sites at Salem High School and St. Peter's Church in Salem would be closed because of frigid wind chills, with the Curative mobile clinic at Riley Plaza in Salem also closing Tuesday morning. Salem is holding a test clinic for residents only Tuesday night at the Community Life Center. Gov. Charlie Baker on Tuesday morning addressed the long lines and difficulties in finding a PCR test, saying that new state Department of Health guidance advises employers and schools to accept a negative rapid test — and not require a negative PCR test — test to clear staff and students to return. Until recently, the PCR test was considered the standard for testing negative or positive for the virus because it creates an official state record, while an at-home rapid test does not have a state or local reporting mechanism and is done largely on the honor system. But in a forum on school safety and protocols last week, Salem School Committee member and Salem State professor Dr. Kristin Pangallo said the rapid tests can actually be more effective in determining when a person should go back to the office or school because the rapid tests measure whether a person is contagious while a PCR can detect trace levels of virus in the body weeks after the person is no longer a threat to spread the disease. (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 Schools Taking 'Every Step' To Keep Classrooms Open MA Getting 26M Rapid Tests, With Focus On Schools