Over the course of the month from Jan. 16 to Feb. 20, COVID-19 cases in Franklin County have plummeted by nearly 84%, with 341 cases in the past two weeks compared to 2,142 just over a month ago.
This interactive map shows the continuing decline of local cases in the two-week period from Feb. 6 to Feb. 19, according to data from the state Department of Public Health released on Feb. 24.
In this two-week period, Greenfield’s COVID-19 caseload dropped to 106, Orange and Montague both declined to 33 and 38, respectively, and Athol’s count dropped to 55.
Numerous local towns, such as Montague, Conway and Buckland, have joined Greenfield in rescinding their mask mandates amid declining cases. The next step is for local school committees to discuss whether to continue mask mandates in schools, as the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s statewide mandate expired Feb. 28.
Although positive COVID-19 cases are rapidly declining, the death rate in Franklin County reached the all-time peak of 11 deaths in two weeks due to the virus for the fourth time since Dec. 27, 2020.
Below is contact information for the three COVID-19 testing sites available in Greenfield, as outlined on mass.gov:
■CIC Health at Greenfield Community College, 1 College Drive, Greenfield. Website: cic-health.com/stopthespread. Alternatively, call 877-280-2937 or email support@cic-health.com to make an appointment. Unscheduled visits are available, though registration is required on site. Testing instructions are available in English and Spanish.
■Walgreens at 5 Pierce St., Greenfield. Appointments are needed. Those looking to sign up must do so either at walgreens.com or using the Walgreens app.
■Baystate’s testing center, 33 Riddell St., Greenfield. Open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and Saturdays from 8 a.m. to noon. Call 413-795-8378 to make an appointment. A physician’s referral is required.
A new PCR testing site is opening at the South County Senior Center in South Deerfield on March 7. Walk-in appointments will be available.
Chris Larabee can be reached at clarabee@recorder.com or 413-930-4081.