Beverly Tests 322 Residents For Coronavirus At Lynch Park Site

Beverly MA

03 December, 2020

9:42 AM

Description

BEVERLY, MA — Beverly Mayor Mike Cahill said more than 300 residents were tested for coronavirus on the first day of free, drive-thru testing at Lynch Park on Wednesday. The tests will be available Thursday from 8 a.m. to noon and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. This is the PCR nasal swab test — which is less invasive than the PCR nasal pharyngeal test. Those who are in line prior to noon on Thursday, and before 1 p.m. on Saturday, will be allowed to receive a test. Cahill said the exact number of residents tested on the first day was 322. "Please take advantage of this," Cahill urged. Residents reported on social media that the line moved fairly steadily, but that those arriving could expect between a one- and two-hour wait in the car line before being tested. Cars began getting in line well before 8 a.m. both Wednesday and Thursday. The testing options come amid worries that coronavirus rates already on the rapid rise in the city — and across the region — will spike further following travel and family Thanksgiving gatherings. The state Department of Public Health on Wednesday released its most ominous daily coronavirus report in months, saying there were more than 4,600 newly reported cases of the virus and a seven-day positive test rate of nearly 5 percent. The 4,613 cases easily eclipses the previous high for a day. The previous single-day mark was 3,079 at what was the height of the pandemic in April. The seven-day positive test rate has risen to 4.94 percent. Beverly residents are encouraged to take advantage of these testing times to help protect those around them from potentially contracting the virus. More Patch Coverage: MA Shows Single-Day Record COVID Cases In Ominous Report