MA Launches New Testing Initiative In 8 Communities

Gov. Charlie Baker announced a new COVID-19 testing initiative that will increase testing in some of the hardest-hit communities in recent weeks.

The "Stop the Spread" initiative begins Friday and will run through the middle of August. It will establish testing sites in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlboro and New Bedford. Asymptomatic residents will be able to get tested.

"Testing is one of the critical tools in the toolbox," Baker said during his Wednesday afternoon news conference.

Those communities were chosen due to an outsized prevalence of COVID-19 infections. Baker said those eight communities are home to nine percent of the state's population but account to 27 percent of positive tests the past two weeks.

The seven-day positive rate in Massachusetts has dipped to 1.9 percent, but it's still at 8 percent in those eight communities.

Baker said the testing initiative may expand to other communities that see similar results.