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ASHLAND – Following an increase in demand for COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts, an additional testing site will begin operations in Ashland, at the town’s Commuter Rail Station.
There has been a demand for a MetroWest regional testing site since the one at Framingham State University’s parking lot closed in August.
The new testing site, a priority of Massachusetts Senate President Karen E. Spilka and State Representative Jack Patrick Lewis, will offer Massachusetts residents an additional option for testing at no cost to recipients.
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The new site will be funded by the Commonwealth and will be operated by Fallon Ambulance in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health and local health officials.
It will add to the Commonwealth’s network of hundreds of COVID-19 testing sites across Massachusetts. Residents can find a testing site near them online at www.mass.gov/gettested.
“To support communities’ sustained recovery from the pandemic, we need to ensure that residents have continued access to the tools at the center of our pandemic strategy– among them, testing and vaccines,” said Senate President Karen E. Spilka. “I want to extend my deep thanks to the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority and MBTA workers for allowing us to use their space to promote public health.”
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While other COVID-19 testing sites are currently available in the MetroWest region, the new Ashland site will be the first to offer drive-through testing in the region.
“After hearing from numerous residents of Ashland and Framingham about the lack of accessible drive-thru testing in our region, I reached out to Senate President Karen Spilka and the Department of Public Health in order to partner together in developing a new testing location,” said Representative Jack Patrick Lewis. “I am grateful to Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert, Ashland Sargeant Ed Burman, and the team at the MBTA for their quick and creative efforts to make this possible.”
“Massachusetts continues to lead the nation in COVID-19 testing, which will continue to be a critical tool to keeping the virus in check even as we lead the nation in vaccinations,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “We are pleased to work with local partners to launch this new site, which will provide residents with another free and easy option to get tested.”
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“We are happy to partner with our state agencies and delegation to bring this important testing site to the region, and we hope the new location provides a convenient testing alternative for those who rely on public transportation,” said Ashland Town Manager Michael Herbert.
Fallon Ambulance, the site’s operator, has previously partnered with the state of Massachusetts to provide testing and other health services.
The testing site will begin operations on Monday, October 4th. The site will be open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays 7:00 am to 11:00 am, and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm.
Prior sign-up for testing will be available at the Commonwealth’s Stop the Spread webpage (mass.gov/info-details/find-a-covid-19-test), but is not required for residents to receive testing.
There is still a walk-up testing site at St. Tarcisius on Route 135 in Framingham run by Project Beacon. The Spicer administration said it was working on a new drive-thru location since August but no announcement ever came.
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MetroWest Medical Center