EASTHAMPTON — COVID-19 testing will be available to the public in Easthampton starting in December.
The Easthampton Health Department has partnered with California-based health services firm Curative to offer free polymerase chain reaction (PCR) COVID-19 testing, beginning Monday, Dec. 6.
Whenever anyone has called the city’s health department in the past asking where they can find a testing location, Health Director Bri Eichstaedt has had to direct residents elsewhere like Holyoke Community College’s Stop the Spread site.
“As a city, we’ve done a really good job handling COVID-19 by getting information out and holding pop-up clinics, but testing is one of those things that we have not had until now,” she said. “We’ve heard that even with vaccine clinics where we’ve directed people to Northampton, who received a regional grant to host COVID-19 vaccine clinics, that people would prefer not to leave town.”
Eichstaedt also noted that she’s heard of a few instances where people wanted to get tested after showing minor symptoms like a headache or a runny nose, but when they couldn’t find a testing site that had availability within a timely manner, they opted not to get tested.
“I hope by opening these sites, testing is more convenient for our residents and the public. We’re really grateful to partner with Curative and Eastworks,” she said.
Testing will be available on Mondays, from 1 to 4 p.m., and Thursdays, from 8:30 to 11 a.m. in conference room b, on the lower level at the Municipal Building, located at 50 Payson Ave. To schedule an appointment at the Municipal Building, visit https://curative.com/sites/34189.
On Saturdays, testing will be available from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. outside of the Registry of Motors, which is located in the Eastworks building at 116 Pleasant St. To schedule an appointment at the Eastworks site, visit https://curative.com/sites/34190.
The PCR tests are available for free to those with or without health insurance. Sites will also accommodate walk-ins while supplies last.
Emily Thurlow can be reached at ethurlow@gazettenet.com.
