COVID Testing In Melrose As Local Cases See Increase

MELROSE, MA — Confirmed cases of COVID-19 here have increased after several weeks of slow activity, prompting a testing spot in the city Friday.

Gov. Charlie Baker's coronavirus command center is sending a testing van to the front of the middle school from 1-6 p.m. Anyone can be tested regardless of whether symptoms exist. No appointment is necessary, but officials ask people enter through the high school parking lot, wear face coverings, stay in their car and not bring pets.

The turnaround time for results is 24-48 hours.

The number of cumulative cases in the city as of 4:10 p.m. Thursday was at 258. That's seven more cases than was reported Monday, when there were six active cases and 27 deaths.

Health Director Ruth Clay said she could not point to a specific case or instance that was tied to the recent spike in cases without identifying people.

"Again, we want to emphasize the importance of social distancing, mask wearing and proper hygiene," Clay told Patch. "We can’t say this enough."

Clay also revealed some of the details for how the city handles positive cases.

When someone tests positive, the Health Department contacts that person, beginning their case management. The person is told how to isolate for at least 10 days, and may ask questions and stay in contact with officials. After the 10 days, officials discuss the person's health with them and, if appropriate, allow them to end isolation.

At the beginning of the case management, the person is asked who they have had close contact with 48 hours before symptoms or testing positive. Those people are then contacted — known as contact tracing — and are also told to isolate if they are showing symptoms. If they are asymptomatic or even test negative, they are told to quarantine for 14 days. The Health Department then makes a determination as to whether the person's employment would require further contact tracing.

The Health Department plans on finishing its most recent contact tracing Friday.