Coronavirus

How Friday's Snow Will Affect COVID-19 Testing Sites in Mass., NH

Many of the Boston area's bigger testing facilities told NBC10 Boston they were planning to stay open despite the winter storm

NBCUniversal Media, LLC

If you're looking to get a COVID-19 Friday, you may be out of luck, thanks to the coming snowstorm.

The Massachusetts Department of Public Health warned residents Thursday that Friday's impending storm could affect testing sites and lead to closures. Residents should call ahead to see if their site is closed. If it is, officials suggest an at-home rapid test.

COVID-19 tests have been increasingly hard to find and long lines at testing sites have meant hours-long waits, for some out in the cold. The at-home tests, however, are also rare finds on store shelves.

Friday's storm will drop plowable snow, and DPW crews are asking people to stay off the roads if possible.

The storm isn't preventing all sites from opening, however. Many of the Boston area's bigger testing facilities were planning to stay open when NBC10 Boston reached out on Thursday.

CIC Health said Thursday that its sites and operations remain open and they do not expect disruptions. Brigham and Women's Hospital and Massachusetts General Hospital said they had no changes planned, and Cambridge Health said their Somerville Vaccine Center would be open for regular hours.

On Thursday night, half of Boston's COVID testing sites were listed as being open on Friday. Half were listed as being closed.

COVID-19 Test Site Closures Around Boston

Two state-run "Stop the Spread" sites in Salem announced closures.

The new LCG site at the West End House B&G Club Allston, which offers free testing, will be closed Friday due to the snow.

In New Bedford, officials said the testing site run by Seven Hills Behavioral Health at former Fire Station 11 in the South End was closed due to the snow.

The CDC recently changed some of their recommendations for COVID-19 when it comes to isolating and masking up. Here is everything you need to know right now.

To find a testing location in Massachusetts, click here.

For information about testing options in New Hampshire, click here.

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