North Shore Thanksgiving Coronavirus Testing, Gathering Guidance

SALEM, MA —While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has issued guidance that the safest way to celebrate Thanksgiving this year is to avoid travel and do so only with members of your own household, those who are planning to see family and friends are flocking to coronavirus test sites ahead of the holiday.

Public health officials are urging people not to rely solely on a negative test result as a guarantee against infection, at the very least those who test positive know to isolate and avoid all gatherings whatsoever.

Yet, getting a test before the holiday as coronavirus cases surge across the region and the country has proved to be a time-consuming process and as of Tuesday may not produce results in time for a Thursday dinner.

Salem opened an additional site at Salem Willows for Salem residents only this weekend with lines of cars taking up to two hours and more to move through the drive-thru line, according to social media posts.

"Like many testing sites in Massachusetts, lines are long now due to the approaching holiday," Salem officials said on the city's official account. "Plan accordingly. You're likely to have to wait for a while. Wait times for this site over the last two days ranged from about 30 minutes to two hours. Please be patient."

2. Vehicles should queue along Fort Avenue and then around the metered Willows lot. Do not queue vehicles into the neighborhood. pic.twitter.com/KgLpMvSG8O
— City of Salem MA (@CityofSalemMA) November 24, 2020

Not helping matters was rain on Monday causing the Salem Willows site to close for a couple of hours because getting testing supplies wet can compromise their reliability.

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll said 622 people were tested at the site on Sunday.

Free testing is also available at "Stop the Spread" sites at Salem High and Old Town Hall in Downtown Salem. Those are open to the general public regardless of residence.

The Peabody Health Department recently released a map of coronavirus clusters in the city to show residents the cases are spread out throughout Peabody and that no part of the city has been spared. The Health Department issued another advisory discouraging holiday travel this week.

"We're hoping people reconsider any holiday-related travel plans," Peabody health officials said. "It's safest to stay home and celebrate with members of your household.

"If you are thinking of traveling out of state this holiday season, take time to review the latest Massachusetts travel requirements. Only Hawaii and Vermont are currently considered lower risk states. Travel to all other states requires travelers to fill out the Massachusetts Travel Form, with only a few specific exceptions for certain people and types of travel. Upon return to Massachusetts, travelers must either quarantine for 14 days or have proof of a negative COVID-19 test (PCR test) with the sample taken within 72 hours of arriving in Massachusetts. People in violation of these policies may be fined $500 per day."

Peabody officials suggested several "lower-risk activities" other than extended family dinners that include: virtual video dinners, watching festive parades and movies at home and doing your post-holiday shopping online.

"A COVID-19 test represents only a single point in time," said Helen Boucher, Chief of Infectious Diseases at Tufts Medical Center, said in a statement from the Massachusetts Health and Hospital Association. "A negative test result does not guarantee that you won’t become infectious tomorrow, a few days from now or when gathering with family for Thanksgiving.

Unfortunately, there is a tremendous risk for a perfect storm of COVID-19 suffering and death in the weeks following the holiday. This year, I urge everyone to wear masks and give your loved ones the gift of a distanced Thanksgiving, so we have the best opportunity to all be together again to celebrate the holidays next year."

Swampscott has also added additional drive-thru testing hours at its First Church location both ahead of the holiday and on Saturday for those returning from any Thanksgiving travel.

The Marblehead Board of Health will hold a virtual public meeting Tuesday night to address and advise on the rise of cases in that town. Marblehead recently added to its weekly coronavirus dashboard to include age breakdowns of those testing positive for the virus.

A map of the state's COVID-19 testing sites can be found here.

Symptomatic patients who need immediate results are urged not to use the free testing sites and instead schedule an appointment for a rapid test.

"Processing labs being inundated with tests," Salem officials said. "Vast majority will receive results in — 48 hours at most, but a possibility some may take longer.

"Need immediate test result because you're symptomatic? Don't use this testing; contact your healthcare provider about testing options."

Driscoll requesting that all Salem residents get tested at least twice in November as part of the city's "Knowvember" campaign, the city has received feedback from residents saying that they would be willing to do so, but that wait times are too long.

Beyond patience, one piece of advice for those seeking a quicker test is the new site at the former Suffolk Downs in East Boston — where wait times were closer to 20 to 30 minutes over the weekend.

More Patch Coverage: Marblehead Provides Additional Town Coronavirus Data Amid Spike

Swampscott Adds More Free Coronavirus Testing Hours For Residents

Salem Willows Coronavirus Testing Suspended Due To Rain

Salem Asks All Residents To Get 2 Coronavirus Tests In November

Peabody Releases Map Of Coronavirus Cases In City