Free Coronavirus Testing For Salem Residents Gets Underway

SALEM, MA — Free coronavirus testing for Salem residents started Monday as the city joined the state's Stop the Spread program.

Salem joined the program after the state said it was a high-risk community for spreading COVID-19. The designation by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health forced Salem officials to scrap a plan to begin the school year with some in-person learning.

Testing is available at Salem High School at 77 Wilson Street on Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 2 to 6 p.m. and Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Officials also asked residents to report gatherings that violate the state's order banning indoor gatherings of more than 25 people and outdoor gatherings of more than 50 people to Salem police. Officials also want help in enforcing Salem's mask order, which calls for fines of up to $300 for people caught without a face covering in certain areas of the city.

About a fifth of Salem's new coronavirus cases since July 1 have been in people under the age of 19, and 40 percent have been in people under the age of 40. Since July 1, 51 percent of cases have been reported by Latino residents, event though the city's Latino population is just 19 percent of the total population.

Dave Copeland covers Salem and other North Shore communities for Patch. He can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).