GLOUCESTER ALERT: Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken Shares Community Testing Results and Reminders
Hi, this is Mayor Sefatia Romeo Theken with an update regarding the results from last week’s FREE COVID-19 community testing and a reminder to residents about the remaining testing dates and times this week.
For the first round of COVID-19 testing which took place on October 15th and 16th, 1211 people were tested. 96% of all those tested were from Gloucester. The test positivity rate overall for that two day testing period was 1.7%. The test positivity rate for Gloucester was only 1.8%, which was the same rate reported for Gloucester last week prior to the community-wide testing. These positivity rates, coupled with our Biobot Wastewater results, suggest that there is not a larger community wide spread at play. This is very encouraging news.
As of this morning, the status of cases in the City of Gloucester were as follows: 433 overall cases (384 confirmed and 49 probable); 342 recovered; 26 COVID-19 related deaths; and 65 active cases.
As a reminder, the City of Gloucester along with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health have extended FREE COVID-19 testing, open to all residents, at Stage Fort Park from 10:00 a.m. through 3:00 p.m. on Thursday – October 22 and Saturday – October 24. Translators for multiple languages will be onsite.
Cars should enter from the Boulevard side adjacent to the tennis courts, and exit by the Cupboard Restaurant and onto Western Avenue. Hough Avenue will temporarily be one way for the duration of the remaining 2 scheduled testing clinics. Walk-ins are also welcome. If you are able to PLEASE participate in the weekday testing so that those who work during the week can utilize the Saturday testing.
Participants do not need to have symptoms to get tested, and test results will be provided to each participant confidentially. Participants will be asked for their name, date of birth, address, telephone number and email address in order to be contacted with their test results. Those who do participate are encouraged to share their results with their doctors.
Please get tested and help us stop the spread of COVID-19 in our community. Thank you to everyone who has been tested and for those who plan to be tested.
A reminder to everyone to please wear a mask or face covering when out in public, maintain a safe physical distance of 6 feet from others, wash and sanitize your hands and frequently touched surfaces often, and stay home if you’re sick.
Thank you. Be well and stay safe.
