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FRAMINGHAM – Framingham Health Director Sam Wong said in the past month a quarter of all new COVID-19 cases have been asymptyomatic.
And that is a major reason why Dr. Wong wants everyone in the City of Framingham to get tested for the coronavirus.
“We need to identify the individuals in the City who are positive and asymptomatic. They are spreading the virus, and don’t even know it,” said Wong.
Wong said a majority of those who are testing positive for the virus have a mild case – sore throat, running nose, fever, cough, but no hospitalization.
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is providing free coronavirus testing in the City of Framingham in three locations, as Framingham is a high-risk community for the virus. The free testing is available through October 31.
There is a drive-up site at Walsh Middle School Mondays through Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. All can attend. No insurance card is needed.
There is a walk-up free testing site at Amazing Things Arts Center on Hollis Street in downtown Framingham on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3 to 6 p.m.
There is a walk-up free testing site, with limited parking, at SMOC HQ at 7 Bishop Street from 3 to 6 p.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridqays.
The Walsh drive-up site has had a few hiccups, said Wong. The biggest issue is the lack of a holding cue for the vehicles.
The police department will cut off the line for testing, to avoid a back-up on Brook Street. That is why some may see cones blocking off the access to Walsh on some days before 1 p.m.
“We are working with the state and Fallon Ambulance to increase staffing at the site to handle more tests,” said Wong.
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Wong said the Walsh site is smaller than Keefe Tech. He said the City can not return to Keefe Tech or have testing at Framingham High, as both buildings have high needs students in the physical building at this time.
Wong said said Staples is no longer available as the company needed the site for its own use.
Wong said Walsh is averaging about 300 tests per day.
The health director said the SMOC site has about 200 tests per day, with Amazing Things having about 125-150 tests per day.
Framingham has been a high-risk community for the virus since the end of August, six consecuive weeks,a nd tonight likely will be the seventh.
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MetroWest Medical Center