Find A COVID-19 Test In Massachusetts

MASSACHUSETTS — The state's COVID-19 testing Website says coronavirus tests are "widely available" throughout Massachusetts, but try telling that to people who have visited countless pharmacies to find empty shelves or spent hours waiting outside minute clinics in recent weeks.

The ongoing, Omicron-fueled surge of coronavirus cases in Massachusetts, as well as demand from people who want to safely attend holiday gatherings, have made getting a COVID-19 test in Massachusetts this year's hot holiday item. This guide includes places where you can get tested but, keep in mind, the status of tests is changing fast: it's always good to call ahead and make sure the information included in this guide is still accurate.

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You should get a test if you have any COVID-19 symptoms or have had contact with anyone who has tested positive. The state also recommends you get tested if you've traveled out of Massachusetts or are planning to gather indoors with people you don't live with.

Testing For Any Massachusetts Resident

There's no quick fix for getting a COVID test in Massachusetts. You're either going to have to hunt through pharmacy and state Websites for an open appointment or plan to spend a long time waiting in line at the sites that accept walk-up patients. And many of the sites are charging for tests.

Testing appointments at pharmacies like CVS and Walmart are full or filling up fast if you're trying to get a test before the holiday weekend, but it's still worth checking. You can also search for testing sites near you on the state's Website. If you're looking for a walk-up site, look for sites that list operating hours instead of testing sites designated "by appointment only."

Ashland's drive up testing site is open to all Massachusetts residents and is located in the Ashland MBTA commuter rail station off of Memorial Drive. Walk-ins are welcome, but check the site's holiday hours.

Project Beacon is operating a testing site at Saint Tarcisius Parish on Waverly Street in Framingham. Appointments are required, but the site is open to all Massachusetts residents.

Local Options

Last week the state began distributing 2.1 million rapid at-home tests to the 102 communities hit the hardest by COVID-19, and many of those communities began passing those tests out to residents.

We have information on getting a test in the communities listed below, and will continue to update this list as we get more information. If you don't see your town or city listed, call your local board of health.

• Beverly
• Framingham
• Marlborough
• Waltham
• Worcester