Coronavirus Test Center Opens At Gillette For First Responders

FOXBOROUGH, MA —A first responder only drive-thru testing center opened Sunday at the Gillette Stadium in Foxborough.

“While the effects of this public health emergency are obviously keenly felt by all of us, some of the greatest challenges associated with meeting it head-on are being met by our men and women in public safety,” said Gov. Charlie Baker from the stadium parking lot. “These professionals are working in high-risk environments to protect our communities, and we felt it was important to continue to expand our capacity to support them.”

The center, built in the parking lot outside the home of the New England Patriots in four days by the National Guard, State Police, and the local Fire Department, offers free testing for first responders including firefighters, police, hospital workers and EMTs showing symptoms.

"This site just opened up this morning and will perform up to 200 tests a day, perhaps more, depending on available materials and kits," he said.

The site will be open seven days a week and will have tests back within 24 hours, he said.

State health officials said as of Sunday 12,500 people tested positive for COVID-19 and some 231 had died.

As of Saturday the state has tested 68,800 individuals, meeting a goal of testing 35,000 people daily for the past two weeks.

Baker said he's also working to increase hospital bed capacity and secure equipment for front line workers.

"We actually got a shipment last night which was unpacked this morning of ventilators from the national stockpile," he said.

Last week, the Patriots used the team plane to deliver more than a million N95 masks from China.

"While I’m standing here today in the shadow of Gillette Stadium," said Baker. "I’d be remiss if I didn’t take this opportunity to once again say thank you to the Kraft family and the Patriots organization and all of those who worked with us to get the shipment of one million masks in from China."

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