City To Receive 6,300 Additional At-Home COVID Tests

The Greenfield Health Department is poised to receive 6,300 additional COVID-19 at-home rapid antigen tests from the Commonwealth. Greenfield is one of 264 cities and towns that requested additional tests. The tests will be distributed to municipalities on a rolling basis over the next two weeks.

Franklin County residents will be able to access these tests through the Greenfield Health Department and the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. FRCOG is receiving 2,000 additional tests from this latest allocation. The City is also providing tests to Montague, Deerfield and Sunderland as part of its inter-municipal partnership.

“Though COVID activity is thankfully again trending downward, it is important to remain vigilant and to get tested if you have symptoms or have been in close contact with someone who has tested positive– even if you are fully vaccinated,” said Health Director Jennifer Hoffman. “In addition to rapid antigen testing, the City has returned PCR testing to Greenfield Community College and continues to monitor the wastewater system for traces of the virus– all to get the most accurate read on coronavirus activity in Greenfield.”

This latest allocation of tests will bring the total number of rapid tests received by the City to more than 11,500 since March.

The Greenfield Health Department and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health advise residents to observe the following protocols to protect themselves and loved ones from COVID:

• Get vaccinated and stay up to date. The best protection against COVID-19 is remaining up to date on COVID-19 vaccines. That means being fully vaccinated and getting a booster. A fully vaccinated person is much less likely to get sick or spread the virus that causes COVID-19, especially if they have their booster shot. More information is available online at https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-vaccine.
  
• Take a test. Testing remains an important part of reducing the spread of COVID-19. Testing is widely available in Massachusetts. A list of testing locations is available at https://www.mass.gov/covid-19-testing.
  
• Get treatment. Residents who test positive should talk to their doctor right away about COVID-19 treatment options that are available for individuals who have mild to moderate symptoms. Learn more at www.mass.gov/covidtreatments.