The front entrance of the Acushnet Council on Aging/Senior Center shows cars doubling up to enter the grounds on 1/4/21 when the site was overwhelmed with people looking to be testing for the COVID-19 virus. Photo from COA security footage.
By Beth David, Editor
After hundreds of cares lined up on South Main Street making it nearly impassable on January 4, the town of Acushnet decided to move its weekly testing to Acushnet Elementary School and will only test Acushnet residents. The previous testing site was the Council on Aging/Senior Center on South Main Street.
Fire Chief Kevin Gallagher posted on Facebook on 1/4 that the testing clinic caught them by surprise.
“We knew it would be busy (380 PCR tests performed) but to see South Main Street impassable was too much,” wrote Chief Gallagher. “In our goal to protect the public’s health we cannot threaten the public’s safety.”
He said they have routinely tested 100-175 people with no problem.
“However, it was made clear today that until more communities step up and offer their own testing, until more testing sites allow walk-ins and until the testing-hysteria subsides, what happened today will keep on happening,” he wrote. “We simply can’t allow that to occur. We have a responsibility to keep things safe.”
People are lined up outside with a full parking lot at the Acushnet Council on Aging/Senior Center on 1/4/21, when the site was overwhelmed with people looking to be testing for the COVID-19 virus. Photo from COA security footage.
Sources told the Neighb News that cars were lined up along South Main Street right to the corner of Main Street on 1/4/21. Some people parked at the Century House and walked up the hill to Senior Center. People trying to pick up loved ones from programs at the senior center were not able to access the grounds or got stuck in traffice on the way out.
Testing will now take place from 8 a.m. to noon at the Elementary School on Middle Road for Acushnet residents only. ID/proof of residency will be required.
Find the “Acushnet Fire and EMS Department” on Facebook for updates, or call the Fire Department, 508-998-0250.
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