COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts impacted due to snow – WWLP.com

CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts may be impacted due to the snow Friday morning.

The state is urging residents to call your testing location to ensure it is open as closures are expected.

The drive-through testing site at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield will continue Friday despite snow in the forecast. Testing will be conducted from 8 a.m. until 3 p.m. Testing lines have been long so youre advised to register in advance.

Molecular and antigen tests (not PCR) are available at the Holyoke Medical Center Auxiliary Conference Center located on 20 Hospital Drive in Holyoke, Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Holyoke Community College and the War Memorial testing sites are closed Friday due to the inclement weather. HCC COVID-19 testing will reopen on Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m.

The Easthampton drive-through testing site is by appointment only. As of Friday morning, appointments were book through Tuesday, January 11.

To find a testing location near you visitMass.gov.

22News called the following locations to verify COVID-19 testing Friday:

You should get a test for COVID-19 if:

Testing may also be advised if you are unvaccinated and have recently traveled out of Massachusetts, and you may consider using a self-test before joining indoor gatherings with others who are not in your household.

For detailed information, visit the CDCs webpage:Testing for COVID-19

You can also call 2-1-1, a 24-hour state-supported telephone hotline.

If you develop symptoms of COVID-19, even if they are mild, please contact your healthcare provider and a test site near you to schedule a test. You can alsocheck your symptoms online.

Symptoms may appear2-14 days after exposureto the virus andmay include:

VisitFind a COVID-19 Testto search for a testing site near you.

Many sites may require pre-screening, a referral and/or an appointment.

Pleasecontact the site prior to arrival.

COVID-19 testing for symptomatic individuals and close contacts is usually covered by insurance and available at no cost to you.

Additionally, many test sites in the Commonwealth test uninsured individuals for free. If you are uninsured, please call your local test site to confirm before making an appointment.

It can take a few days to get your test results and while you are waiting, you should stay home and limit your contact with anyone else. If you test positive for COVID-19, you should self-isolate until you are no longer infectious, and notify your close contacts that they may have been exposed to COVID-19.

*This list is not all possible symptoms. Please call your medical provider for any other symptoms that are severe or concerning to you.

Aclose contactis someone you have been inside with and were within 6 feet of for at least 10-15 minutes while symptomatic or in the 2 days before symptom onset. You can be a close contact of someone who didnt have symptoms if you were inside with them or and were within 6 feet of for at least 10-15 minutes in the 10 days after they tested positive or in the 2 days before their positive test was taken. A close contact can also be someone who had direct contact with the droplets of a COVID-19 case (e.g., being coughed on) while not wearing a mask or face covering.

There are 2 types of COVID-19 testing:Virus TestingandAntibody Testing.

Virustesting is the type that tells you if you currently have COVID-19. These tests are typically done using a nasal swab, oral swab, or saliva sample, and then sent to a lab. There are two types of this testing:

Antibodytesting detects the presence of antibodies to COVID-19 in your blood. Antibodies are produced during an infection with COVID-19 or by vaccination.

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COVID-19 testing in Massachusetts impacted due to snow - WWLP.com