Report & photos by Lily Karofsky
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FRAMINGHAM – Since August 18, the City of Framingham, with Fallon Ambulance, has been providing free COVID-19, nasal swabbing tests at Amazing Things Arts Center, 160 Hollis Street, in downtown Framingham.
Anyone is welcome to come to get free testing anytime from 3 to 6 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as part of the state’s Stop the Spread program.
This is a walk-up testing site. There is no parking.
Allie Fecteau, 22, had her first day working at the Amazing Things Arts Center site on August 25 but has been doing COVID-19 testing for two weeks.
Previous to working at this site, she was working the drive-thru free testing at Keefe Technical High School. That program ended last week.
Keefe was “getting 300 to 400 [testers] a day,” she said.
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Fecteau explained that most people are not coming in with any symptoms, but just want to be tested to be safe.
She said that the majority of testers at the walk-up ones are younger families with children, that way their children aren’t stuck waiting in line in a car for hours on end.
Most elderly citizens opted to go to the drive-ups to avoid standing for a good part of the day, while it was still available, she said.
Anyone who is concerned about their health, having symptoms, or just wants to be extra safe are more than welcome to take advantage of the free testing offered. No insurance is needed.
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Lily Karofsky is a SOURCE intern for summer 2020. She is a Framingham High student.
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MetroWest Medical Center