UMass-Amherst & State Partner To Offer Asymptomatic Community Testing For COVID-19
UMass At Night: Photo: Kieth Toffling
New $5 Million Grant Will Support Free Testing for Those Without Symptoms
Source: UMass Amherst News Office.
As part of Gov. Charlie Baker’s expansion of COVID-19 testing, UMass-Amherst will launch a major asymptomatic testing program for the community, beginning on Monday, Dec. 14. Free testing will be offered by appointment only, at the Public Health Promotion Center (PHPC) at the Mullins Center.
Adults and children ages 10 and older without symptoms of COVID-19 will be eligible for testing. People who have symptoms are asked not to make appointments at UMass, and to contact their medical providers instead.
“UMass Amherst is well prepared and will act quickly to provide a vital public service to safeguard the health of our community,” said Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy.
The state-funded program will usually run four days per week through Jan. 21, coinciding with winter break. The testing center will be closed Dec. 23, 24, 30 and 31.
Public testing will continue until March 15, into UMass’ spring semester beginning Feb. 1, but will operate with more limited hours as students return. UMass said it will need to shift testing capacity and resources to conduct twice-weekly testing of students both on and off-campus.
Details of the community testing, including how to make appointments, can be found at www.umass.edu/communitycovidtest.
“Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, our administration has worked to increase the Commonwealth’s testing capacity and access to testing sites in all regions,” said Gov. Charlie Baker on Dec. 7. “We are thankful for the partnership with UMass Amherst … providing … an additional resource to get tested in Hampshire County.”
UMass Amherst operates one of the state’s largest COVID-19 testing centers, having conducted more than 170,000 tests since Aug. 6.
A new $5 million grant from the Baker administration will support testing materials and analysis for the community program. UMass Amherst will increase the campus’ COVID-19 testing capacity efforts at its Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS). The newly-created IALS Clinical Testing Center (ICTC) will provide nasal swabs and tubes, and analyze test results. The state funds will also support ongoing testing for UMass students, faculty and staff.
“We deeply appreciate receiving this support from Governor Baker as we leverage the skill and knowledge developed at our test processing site at IALS. The IALS team, led by Founding Director Peter Reinhart, has done extraordinary work in a short period of time to establish this new testing capacity,” Subbaswamy stated.
“I want to thank Governor Baker for investing and trusting in UMass to build COVID-19 testing capacity in this region,” said UMass President Marty Meehan.
The university’s Public Health Promotion Center will manage the community tests, including registration, operation of the Mullins Center site, and notification of results.
Regional legislators praised yesterday’s announcement and the university’s commitment to meeting a pressing public health need.
State Sen. Jo Comerford of Northampton said the Hampshire County delegation has “made it clear to the Baker Administration that Hampshire County needs and deserves a rapid, state-sponsored testing site.”
State Rep. Mindy Domb of Amherst said she greatly appreciates the efforts of UMass and the Baker administration to establish a Hampshire County test site. “UMass’ testing operation is the gold standard, and I’m glad residents will benefit from it during this significant period of period of time,” she said.