麻州推出8個免費檢測站 所有居民都可做檢測

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)宣佈8個免費檢測地點。
(州長辦公室提供)

(Boston Orange 周菊子整理報導)從7月10日起至8月14日，任何麻州居民都可以到州內8個地點，免費做新型冠狀病毒(COVID-19)檢測。

麻州州長查理貝克(Charlie Baker)8日時宣佈了”制止擴散(Stop the Spread”計畫，在雀喜(Chelsea)，艾佛瑞(Everett)，秋河(Fall River)，羅倫斯(Lawrence)，羅爾(Lowell)，林市(Lynn)，馬伯洛夫(Marlborough)，以及新貝福(New Bedford)等8個城市，提供免費檢測，以確保民眾做檢測時不需擔心可能會有相關花費。查理貝克還鼓勵無症狀人士也利用這免費檢測。

州長辦公室表示，前述8個市區，人口僅佔麻州的9%，但在過去2週以來的麻州檢測陽性人口中卻佔了27%。整個麻州的檢測陽性比率約為2%，但前述8個市區卻高達8%。儘管新型冠狀病毒疫情仍然持續，這些城市的檢測比率，卻從4月底以後下降了39%。

根據美國人口統計數據，這8個城市中，有7個是麻州人均收入最低城市之一。其中的馬伯洛夫雖然不是，但位於米斗塞郡(Middlesex)的這城市工人階級人口眾多，巴西移民正不斷增長。

在那些社區的少數族裔中，檢測陽性的比率更高。新貝福市健康主任Damon Chaplin上週告訴議員，該市人口95,000，新型冠狀病毒確診個案2,162宗，死亡人數111。拉丁裔僅佔該市人口4分之一，卻佔COVID-19確診病例的49%。黑人佔該市人口6%，COVID-19確診病例卻佔9%。

Damon Chaplin認為，人們需要更多低價或免費做檢測的途徑與選擇，因為很多人都怕去做了檢測後，會在信箱中收到帳單。他希望任何需要，想要做檢測的人都可以得到免費檢測。

麻州州長查理貝克認為全民檢測是控制擴散的錯誤作法，但是他呼籲全民承諾採取諸如社交隔離，戴口罩，如果需要的話就做檢測等措施來制止擴散。

目前麻州政府並未在麻州西部設立免費檢測站。查理貝克在回應提問時表示，麻州西部社區做檢測人數似乎比其他地區高，但感染COVID-19的比率卻低，所以目前暫無在麻州西部設免費檢測站的計畫，如果有狀況出現，會再調整。

查詢免費檢測地點，可上網mass.gov/stopthespread。

麻州政府也提醒民眾，如果檢測結果呈陽性，當社區追蹤合作(Community Tracing Collaborative)人員或地方衛生局打電話給他們時，請務必接聽。任何需要地方做安全隔離者，可致電617-367-5150，以獲取免費的隔離復原地點。(7月11日發表中文版)

Baker-Polito Administration Launches Targeted Free COVID-19 Testing Sites

Testing will be available in eight communities from July 10 to August 14

BOSTON – Today, the Baker-Polito Administration announced the launch of free COVID-19 testing sites in eight communities from July 10 to August 14 to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

This “Stop the Spread” initiative is a data-driven effort to reduce the prevalence of COVID-19 in communities that are above the state average in total cases and positive test rate, and have experienced a decline in testing levels since April. The initiative is being launched in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford. Residents of these communities are urged to take advantage of the availability of these new testing sites, even if they are asymptomatic. While these sites are being launched in these communities, they are open to all residents of the Commonwealth.

“While the Commonwealth has made progress on reducing the overall positive test rate, there are still communities where the number of positive tests is above the average of the rest of the state,” said Governor Charlie Baker. “Focusing our efforts to increase testing in these communities will help identify new cases and stop the spread. Residents of these communities, even those who are asymptomatic, are urged to take advantage of these new sites.”

“This initiative will provide widespread testing in easy to access community locations,” said Lt. Governor Karyn Polito. “If you live in these communities, please get tested to protect your family, loved ones and neighbors from COVID-19.”

“Increased testing within these communities will help to identify new cases of COVID-19 and break the chains of community transmission,” said COVID-19 Command Center Director & Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “As we move into the summer, we will continue to closely monitor positivity and testing rates across the Commonwealth.”

The population of the cities in which the free testing will be conducted – Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford – make up approximately 9% of the Commonwealth’s population, but have seen 27% of the Commonwealth’s positive tests in the last two weeks.

The statewide positive test rate over the past two weeks is approximately 2%, but in these eight communities, 8% of tests have been positive.

Despite the continued elevated spread in these communities, total testing in these communities has declined 39% since the end of April, and the total cases as a percentage of population for these communities is nearly double the state average.

Residents may visit mass.gov/stopthespread to find testing locations.

Residents are reminded that if they test positive for COVID-19, please answer the call when they are contacted by the Community Tracing Collaborative or their local board of health. Also, any individual who needs a safe place to isolate can call (617) 367-5150 to access an isolation and recovery site at no cost.  (July 8th)