Hampshire County gets COVID-19 testing site at UMass
Kyle Mastalerz, directs the public for getting tested on the first day for testing of Hampshire county residents at the UMass site, December, 14, 2020.
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST Hampshire County’s first free COVID-19 testing site for the public opened at the Mullins Center on the University of Massachusetts campus Monday as the result of a $5 million grant from the state.
After repeated calls from local legislators and municipal officials to the Baker-Polito administration to add a county site to the state’s Stop the Spread program, Baker announced Dec. 7 that the Public Health Promotion Center at UMass would be home to an appointment-only, walk-in site for asymptomatic individuals.
New community COVID testing site opens at UMass Amherst
Updated Dec 14, 2020;
Posted Dec 14, 2020
The UMass Amherst COVID-19 asymptomatic testing center, shown above as it geared up for the fall semester on campus, is now open to all Massachusetts residents. Testing is free but must be made by appointment online. (Hoang Leon Nguyen / The Republican)
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AMHERST Buoyed by the success of its fall COVID-19 testing program and bolstered by a $5 million state grant, the University of Massachusetts Amherst began expanded asymptomatic testing Monday.
On the first morning of testing, a light wintry mix fell as a steady stream of people arrived at the Mullins Center. But there were no lines and no waiting, and plenty of space between visitors. A single staff member posted outside the entrance guided people to the proper doors in contrast to the opening in August for UMass students and staff only, when several workers were on hand to make sure the process went in an o