At the Saugus Senior Center Town offers drive-through COVID-19 testing this month

  Saugus residents who want to know if they are infected with COVID-19 will have a chance to participate in four more drive-through clinics being hosted this month by the Saugus Senior Center.

  “We hope that folks will use this as a resource,” Public Health Director John R. Fralick III said this week, in announcing the tests that will be held at the Senior Center at 498 Central St. on the final Tuesdays and Thursdays of this month from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. “It’s for free and will be available at these drive-through clinics to Saugus residents only. Residents need to show their state-issued ID to show proof of residence.”

  The clinics began this week as a result of a grant the town received from the Massachusetts Health Officers Association to conduct COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing. This diagnostic test determines if a person is infected through analysis of samples to see if they contain genetic material from the virus. The Broad Institute of Cambridge will send the results via the email provided by residents at check-in. Results are typically received within 24-36 hours of testing.

  The Saugus Board of Health will also be providing at-home rapid antigen tests to all participating residents (max three per vehicle while supplies last), Fralick said.

  The Town of Saugus requests the public’s continued vigilance as the spread of the COVID-19 virus continues to enter into an endemic phase. The following testing dates have been confirmed for the month of June 2022:

• June 21 – 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• June 23 – 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• June 28 – 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
• June 30 – 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m.

  “Where this will be a drive-through event, all dates are not weather-permitting and you will receive on-site instructions in the event of any change in protocol,” the town noted in a press release issued this week. “All residents that may have exposure concerns are asked to wear masks when interacting with all staff. The Town of Saugus appreciates the opportunity to continue to provide COVID19 resources to all its residents.”