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Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris Provide COVID-19 Situational Update

Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and Health and Human Services (HHS) Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris held a COVID-19 situational update press conference today to announce the distribution plan of the city’s allocation of free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits as well as to provide an update on city COVID-19 cases. Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris continued to stress the importance for residents of all ages to get vaccinated, especially as cases continue to rise and local hospitals and medical facilities become overburdened.

The City of Springfield’s Department of Health and Human Services will be making available free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits for Springfield residents.  Residents can pick up their free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kit at one of the many citywide locations at the times listed below every Tuesday and Wednesday.  Additional locations and expanded hours will be announced in the future. 

 

Location

Time

Days

 

Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center

1476 Roosevelt Ave

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

 

Tuesdays / Wednesday

 

Department of Health and Human Services

311 State Street

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

 

Tuesdays / Wednesday

 

New North Citizens Council

2455 Main Street

9:00 am to 2:00 pm

 

Tuesdays / Wednesday

 

 

South End Community Center

99 Marble Street

9:00 am to 3:00 pm

 

Tuesdays / Wednesday

 

 

Springfield Public Library Locations listed below:

 

Location

Tuesday

Wednesday

 

Central Library

220 State Street

 

9:00 am to 5:00 pm

12:00 to 8:00 pm

 

Brightwood

359 Plainfield Street

 

1:00 to 8:00 pm

1:00 to 5:00 pm

 

East Forest Park

136 Surrey Road

 

1:00 to 5:00 pm

1:00 to 8:00 pm

 

East Springfield

21 Osborne

 

1:00 to 5:00 pm

1:00 to 8:00 pm

 

Forest Park

380 Belmont Ave

 

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

1:00 to 5:00 pm

 

Indian Orchard

44 Oak Street

 

1:00 to 5:00 pm

1:00 to 8:00 pm

 

Library Express at Pine Point

204 Boston Road

 

CLOSED

1:00 to 6:00 pm

 

Mason Square

765 State Street

 

1:00 to 5:00 pm

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

 

Sixteen Acres

1187 Parker Street

 

1:00 to 8:00 pm

1:00 to 5:00 pm

 

Please note that each rapid COVID-19 at-home test kit contains two (2) tests.  Initially, individuals will be limited to picking up two (2) COVID-19 at-home test kits (4 COVID-19 at-home tests total).  For households in need of more than 2 COVID-19 at-home test kits (4 COVID-19 tests total), residents should identify how many they would need for the individuals in their household.  

Springfield received approximately 170,000 rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits from the Commonwealth as part of the Baker-Politio Administrations efforts of distributing 2.1 million test across the state. 

Mayor Sarno states, “Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris and I want to thank the Baker-Politio Administration for their continued efforts partnering with us throughout this COVID-19 pandemic.  These free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits will provide our residents with another easy and convenient option to get tested.  This distribution plan is part of my administrations continued commitment to making these testing kits readily available by utilizing our neighborhood library branches, the Raymond Jordan Senior Center and our many community partners and to increase access for our residents and their families.”

HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris stated, “The Department of Health and Human Services will make these free rapid COVID-19 at-home test kits readily available for our residents at our Raymond A. Jordan Senior Center, our neighborhood public library branches and with our community partners.  In addition, test kits can be picked up at the office of Health and Human Services at 311 State Street.  It is our goal to get these COVID-19 test kits into the community so that our residents have easy access to getting tested if they feel the need to.”  

As part of the initiative to get these free rapid COVID-19 at-home testing kits out into our community, the Department of Health and Human Services will partner with local downtown businesses to help distribute the at-home testing kits.

“I want to thank Ray Berry and his team at White Lion for reaching out and partnering with the City to accomplishing this important outreach initiative,” HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris said.  “We will continue to reach out to other local downtown establishments to offer this free COVID-19 at-home test kit to their customers at check out on Tuesday as part of ‘Take Home Test Tuesday’.”  

Mayor Sarno also provided an update on the upcoming holiday schedule for the COVID-19 testing site at the Eastfield Mall.  The COVID-19 testing lab will be closed in observance of Christmas and New Year.  As a result, the free daily Stop the Spread COVID-19 testing provided by American Medical Response (AMR) at the Eastfield Mall will be closed on December 24 and 25, and on December 30 and 31.  Operation hours will also be adjusted at the AMR Eastfield Mall testing site on the following days:  December 23, 7:00 am to 11:00 am, and December 30, 7:00 am to 11:00 am.  Testing will resume on December 26, 2021 and on January 1, 2022.  Hours will be 8:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekdays and 9:00 am to 3:00 pm on weekends.     

During the COVID-19 situational update press conference, Mayor Domenic J. Sarno and HHS Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris provided an update on the city’s recent COVID-19 cases and again strongly encourage residents of all ages to get vaccinated.  Mayor Sarno and HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris mentioned their continued discussions with Baystate Health President and CEO Dr. Mark Keroack and Mercy Medical Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Robert Roose and how both hospitals indicated that their medical facilities have become overburdened by the significant increase in COVID-19 patients, many of whom are unvaccinated. 

Mayor Sarno stated, “The situation now has become a pandemic of the unvaccinated as both Dr. Keroack and Dr. Roose have indicated that the majority of those being hospitalized are unvaccinated.  I cannot stress enough, the vaccine works.  Getting the vaccine greatly reduces one’s chances of being serious sick from this virus or even worse hospitalized.  Please, think of your loved ones and get the shot.  The situation is currently putting a strain on our hospitals and medical facilities.”

HHS Commissioner Caulton-Harris said, “The virus is here to stay and we must be cognizant to that fact.  Getting the vaccine will help save lives and help reduce the adverse effect the virus might have if you do catch it.  The rise in COVID-19 cases in the City of Springfield, across the Commonwealth and the Nation is very alarming.  We must remain vigilant.  Although Mayor Sarno and I are not ready to reinstitute the mask mandate at this time, we will continue to monitor the situation and if the situation should not improve we will not hesitate to re-implement the mask mandate or other restrictions for the City of Springfield.  At this time, residents are encouraged to wear their mask if they feel the need to, especially if you do not know the vaccination status of those around you or where social distancing is not possible.”          

Over the past six-week period, the City of Springfield saw a significant increase in positive COVID-19 cases.  For the week of December 12, 2021 the city reported 997 cases, compared to 377 reported cases for the week of November 21, 2021.  Below is the weekly breakdown of cases over the past six weeks. 

 

Week of December 12, 2021

997

Week of December 5, 2021

783

Week of November 28, 2021

818

Week of November 21, 2021

377

Week of November 14, 2021

495

Week of November 7, 2021

400

 

“I know there is a COVID-19 fatigue, like you, I am tired too, but the escalating COVID-19 numbers is extremely concerning,” Mayor Sarno continued.  “We need to take the significant increase in COVID-19 cases seriously.  If the current situation does not improve, I will not hesitate to go back and re-implement the mask mandate and/or other restrictions.  Commissioner Caulton-Harris and I will closely monitor the numbers for this week and will reconvene to discuss all of our options going forward.  Again, I want to strongly encourage those who are vaccinated to get their booster shot when eligible and for those who remain unvaccinated to get their shot.  Again, this is a warning, nothing is off the table if the current situation does not improve.  Mandates and restrictions will follow as early as next week.” 

According to the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 64% of Springfield residents have received at least one dose and 56% of residents are fully vaccinated.

 

Municipality

Total Population

Individuals with at least one dose

Individuals with at least one dose per capita

Fully vaccinated individuals

Fully vaccinated individuals per capita

Springfield

156,245

100,737

64%

87,053

56%

 

Below are some of the COVID-19 vaccination clinics being offered in the City of Springfield.  Additional clinic locations can be found at your local pharmacy stores such as CVS and Walgreens.  For more information and to find your local COVID-19 vaccine clinic please visit:  vaxfinder.mass.gov

 

Clinic

Location

Date

Time

 

Department of Health and Human Services

 

St. Johns Congregational Church

45 Hancock Street

Tuesday: December 21, 28 and January 4

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

 

Caring Health Center

 

473 Sumner Ave

 

Monday – Thursday (Adult and Pediatrics)

 

Friday (Pediatrics Only)

 

9:00 am to 12:00 pm

 

 

1:00 to 5:00 pm

 

BHN

 

35 Warwick Street

Every Wednesday

10:00 am to 2:00 pm

 

Springfield Technology Park

 

1 Federal Street

Visit:  vaxfinder.mass.gov

Visit:  vaxfinder.mass.gov

 

 

For more information and updates on the City of Springfield’s COVID-19 situation and response and/or to schedule your vaccine appointment, please visit the City of Springfield’s website at:  www.springfield-ma.gov

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Page last updated:  Tuesday, March 1, 2022 01:32 pm