BOSTON — People in Western Massachusetts, and the Berkshires in particular, frequently complain the region is being ignored by a state government headquartered at the other end of the commonwealth.
On Wednesday, Gov. Charlie Baker announced a new program that will impact eight municipalities — none west of I-495.
But this is not the kind of list any town or city wants to make.
Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito used their daily press briefing to announce that the commonwealth will offer targeted free COVID-19 testing sites in Chelsea, Everett, Fall River, Lawrence, Lowell, Lynn, Marlborough, and New Bedford.
All residents of those communities will be able to be tested for the novel coronavirus whether or not they have symptoms of COVID-19.
"We're launching this program in eight specific communities, where the prevalence of COVID-19 is above the statewide average and we've seen a decrease in testing since mid-April," Baker said. "The goal of this initiative is to provide widespread asymptomatic testing in an easy-to-access location within these communities."
The targeted testing program will begin on Friday and run through the middle of August, Baker said.
In his back-and-forth with the press at Wednesday's event, Baker was asked whether he planned to expand the targeted testing to Western Mass.
"If folks in Western Massachusetts start to have issues, absolutely," he said. "Western Mass was one of the first parts of Massachusetts that actually showed significant outbreaks, and then Western Mass got very low — low enough that I can remember at one point in time you asking me why we weren't opening up their economy before we opened other people's economies."
At one point, a testing site for frontline workers in all of Western Mass was set up at the Big E Fairgrounds in Springfield; the Berkshire has had two testing sites, both in Pittsfield.
The western third of the commonwealth overcame its early spikes and currently has numbers more in line with the state averages, which as of Wednesday included a weighted seven-day positive test rate of 2 percent, down from 4.2 percent as recently as June 8 and down 93 percent from mid-April.
As of Wednesday, Massachusetts has seen 8,028 confirmed COVID-19 deaths and 104,961 confirmed cases. On Tuesday, the commonwealth reported 7,200 molecular tests, bringing its total to 1,157,023, Baker said.
But testing rates are down by 40 percent since the end of April in Chelsea and the other towns in line for the targeted testing program.
"Collectively, these communities make up approximately 9 percent of the Massachusetts population but have seen 27 percent of the commonwealth's positive tests in the past two weeks," he said. "The statewide positive test rate over the past two weeks, as I said before, is a little under 2 percent, but in these eight communities, 8 percent of the tests have been positive. That includes some individuals who have had multiple positive tests."
The Berkshires and Western Mass?
"They have continued to stay very low," Baker said. "I think the point I would make on this is we picked these [eight] places because they had a higher positive test rate than other places in Massachusetts and lower tests than they were actually getting — by a significant amount — back in April.
"If we start to see movement in any of these places, we'll make adjustments. That's part of what this program is all about."
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
Concerns Over PFAS Spark Sewage Debate in Williamstown
By Stephen DravisiBerkshires Staff
The composting facility at the intermunicipal wastewater plant is operating at about two-thirds capacity.
WILLIAMSTOWN, Mass. — Forever chemicals are the source of a protracted debate for the Select Board.
Out of 15 fiscal articles on the warrant for the annual town meeting in May, the board last Monday voted to recommend passage of 14.
It delayed its decision on Article 5, which concerns the budget for the sewer department, more specifically the town's share of operating costs for the Hoosac Water Quality District.
Some members of the community, including a member of the Select Board, say the district is choosing a course of action that is at odds with the environmental principles that the town espouses.
The HWQD is a 55-year-old intermunicipal entity shared by Williamstown and the city of North Adams.
Residents of both communities on public sewer service send their wastewater to a treatment facility in Williamstown off Simonds Road (Route 7).
The facility cleans and treats the wastewater and discharges it into the nearby Hoosic River.
Some members of the community, including a member of the Select Board, say the district is choosing a course of action that is at odds with the environmental principles that the town espouses.
click for more
Mount Greylock graduate Noah Greenfield said participation in team sports continued to provide the benefits it offers tens of millions of kids across the country.
click for more
The Prudential Committee on Wednesday took a first look at a draft fiscal year 2026 budget that would increase the operating budget by 27 percent from the year that ends on June 30. click for more
The board decided to put off a decision on its recommendation for an article related to the sewer department, and the panel split on whether to support a series of appropriations of Community Preservation Act funds.
click for more
Valerie Jarrett, CEO and a member of the board of directors of The Obama Foundation, will be the principal speaker at Williams College's 236th commencement exercise on Sunday, June 8. click for more