Town of Easton to Conduct COVID-19 Testing for Residents

EASTON — Emergency Management Director Kevin Partridge, Director of Health and Community Services Kristin Kennedy and Town Administrator Connor Read would like to announce that the Town of Easton will be conducting appointment-only COVID-19 testing for residents this coming Saturday.

Drive-Thru Testing Saturday, Jan. 16

On Saturday, Jan. 16, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., drive-thru tests will be conducted at Easton Fire Station 3, located at 413 Bay Road in Easton.

The Town is offering this drive-thru testing service to supplement testing already available in Easton (click here to view all available COVID-19 test sites in town) and to bolster local emergency planning efforts as the Commonwealth’s vaccine plan enters its first of three planned phases.

“By offering this testing site, we can provide a service to the public while also implementing COVID-19 emergency preparedness plans for police, fire, health and public works that will be integral to any potential vaccine distribution efforts later this spring,” Chief Partridge said.

This will be a drive-thru site. Those getting tested are asked to remain in their vehicles, keep the windows up and wear face coverings at all times. Town staff on site will provide instruction to residents when they pull into the station for nasal swabbing for the PCR test.

The testing will be at no cost to residents. As part of the process the Town will be asking residents to provide their health insurance information, but those who lack insurance or whose insurance will not cover the test will not be charged.

The testing will be by appointment only and those wishing to get tested will need to pre-register online with the Board of Health and will provide proof of residency at that time. Test results will be provided either by phone or by email.

Appointments will be filled on a first-come,first-served basis and will be closed once the capacity for the day is reached.

Residents interested in securing a test appointment must fill out the appointment request form by clicking here. Those who require assistance with the online form can call the COVID-19 hotline at 508-230-0783 during business hours or email the Town at COVID19@easton.ma.us.

Easton Prepares for COVID-19 Vaccinations

Massachusetts is currently in Phase I of three planned phases of vaccine distribution as announced by Gov. Baker in December. Easton will begin vaccinations of their first responders as part of the Massachusetts Phase I plan in the short term, however, municipal responsibilities for vaccine distribution in Phase II (February-April) and Phase III (April-June) have yet to be determined by the Commonwealth.

“While we await further guidance from the state on our role in Phase II and III vaccinations, the team felt a pilot drive-thru test site would provide us a proactive opportunity to work with the community to test our reservation booking and COVID-related operational capacities before any potential community-wide vaccination efforts are underway, and to identify any areas needing improvement ahead of time,” said Town Administrator Connor Read. “This builds on certifying our firefighter/paramedics for COVID-19 testing and vaccine administration and other critical capacity building efforts in advance of later phases of the Massachusetts vaccination plan.”

Please refer to the Commonwealth’s website for the most up-to-date vaccine planning details – www.mass.gov/covidvaccine.

Additional Information

Residents are reminded to always take the following precautions to prevent further spread of COVID-19 in the community:

• Remember that an infected individual can spread COVID-19 before they have symptoms, which is why social distancing — maintaining a minimum of 6 feet from others — is critical.
• Those who must go out are urged to:
  • Avoid gathering in groups
  • Maintain 6 feet from people outside your household
  • Do not shake hands or hug
  • Wash your hands often
• Those who are at a high risk for COVID-19, including those over the age of 65 and with underlying health conditions, are advised to stay home and avoid non-essential tasks and errands
• Wear a mask in indoor and outdoor spaces at all times.
• Face coverings should:
  • Cover the nose and mouth
  • Fit snugly and comfortably against the side of the face
  • Be secured with either ties or ear loops
  • Permit breathing without difficulty
  • Be able to be washed and machine dried without damage. Face masks should be washed regularly depending on the amount of use.

For more information about COVID-19 prevention and symptoms, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website here and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health website here.

As always, Easton residents can learn the latest about the COVID-19 situation in town by visiting the COVID-19 page on the Town’s website.

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