GREENFIELD — The Health Department plans to administer free rapid antigen testing at its offices on Sanderson Street, beginning Monday.
Testing will be available Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7 to 10 a.m. at 20 Sanderson St., according to Health Director Jennifer Hoffman, who expects the service to be offered “indefinitely.”
“We’re making this service available for people who are exhibiting coronavirus symptoms or who have come into contact with someone who has COVID-19,” Hoffman said.
Appointments are available to anyone in Franklin County on a first-come, first-served basis, and results will be made available in person or by text message 15 minutes after the test is administered.
“Deerfield opened theirs,” Hoffman said, referring to the PCR testing site that opened Monday at the South County Senior Center. “I think (the antigen testing) compliments their clinic and keeps (testing for) another part of Franklin County and the hilltowns accessible.”
She emphasized the rapid antigen tests are not an accurate screen for COVID-19.
“They are more accurate at least five days after the day of exposure, or if you’re symptomatic,” she said. “I want to keep emphasizing that.”
Kits will also be provided to Montague, Deerfield and Sunderland — the communities Greenfield has partnered with for a $250,000 state Department of Public Health grant to support contact tracing and case investigation efforts — so testing can also be available in those communities.
Hoffman said a separate allocation of more than 5,000 rapid antigen tests provided by the state following the decision to close the Stop the Spread PCR testing site at Greenfield Community College (GCC) at the end of March will be offered to the Franklin Regional Council of Governments (FRCOG) for distribution.
“We will have them available to anyone who needs them,” she added.
Hoffman emphasized that the Health Department is also a resource for individuals with other health-related needs, such as blood pressure screenings or going over medications.
“We’re trying to do more than just COVID,” she said.
Residents are urged to check the Health Department’s Facebook page for any changes to the COVID-19 testing schedule. For non-emergency health issues, or to work out an alternative time for a rapid antigen test, call Public Health Nurse Megan Tudryn at 413-824-5855.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne