State launching COVID-19 testing for child care providers

State launching COVID-19 testing for child care providers

The state announced a program to let childcare providers access COVID-19 testing sites.

DEVELOPMENTS.REPORTER: THEY’RE NOT ELIGIBLEFOR VACCINES YET AT SITES LIKETHE ONE OPENING HERE AT FENWAY.BUT AS FAR AS GETTING TESTED,THAT IS SOMETHING THAT DAYCAREPROVIDERS HAVE LONG BEEN TALKINGABOUT.THEY WANT HELP FOR THEIREMPLOYEES AND OTHER PEOPLE ATTHEIR SITES.THEIR FAMILIES.NOW THAT WILL BECOME A REALITY.YESTERDAY, THE STATE ANNOUNCED APILOT PROGRAM ALLOWING CHILDCAREPROVIDERS TO ACCESS EIGHTDRIVE-THROUGH LOCATIONS.THOSE WILL BE LOCATED IN ATHOL,BRAINTREE, BILLERICA, DALTON,FRANKLIN, PLYMOUTH, STURBRIDGEAND WESTFIELD.THE SITES WERE CHOSEN BASED ONHOW CLOSE THEY ARE TO EXISTINGSTATE TESTING LOCATIONS, AND THECONCENTRATION OF DAYCARECENTERS.THOSE TESTING SITES WILL HANDLE400 TESTS A DAY, AND WILL BEFREE.THEY OPEN NEXT WEEK.