December 9, 2020 by Carol Britton Meyer
Even as Town Administrator Tom Mayo was detailing what he called the "scary" spike in new COVID-19 cases in Hingham, he also delivered the good news that Hingham-based Mpathy, LLC, will be opening a testing site at 308 Cushing St. -- the former Hingham Municipal Lighting Plant field personnel office -- tomorrow, Dec. 10, following negotiation of a licensing agreement with the town last week.
The testing site -- which has plenty of room for social distancing and is well-ventilated -- offers PCR testing (usually done through a nose or throat swab). The hours are Monday through Saturday, from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Appointments may be made online at mpathy.org/schedule.
Mayo also reported that Gov. Charlie Baker announced yesterday that all Massachusetts communities will return to Phase 3, Step 1 of the state's reopening plan beginning Sunday due to an increase in new COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations.
A move back to Phase 3 Step 1 will reduce the maximum capacity of outdoor public gatherings from 100 to 50; decrease the number of restaurant patrons to a maximum of six per table and require them to wear masks at all times unless eating or drinking, even when seated at a table; and other restrictions.
"We're seeing a concerning increase in the number of COVID-19 cases across the state [and in Hingham], so I want to remind everyone to be vigilant heading into winter -- to avoid large gatherings, to wash your hands frequently" and to social distance and wear face masks, Mayo said.
During a lengthy telephone call yesterday involving Mayo, Asst. Town Administrator Michelle Monsegur, the fire and police chiefs, Executive Health Officer Susan Sarni, and others to talk about the town's response to COVID-19, the subject of vaccine disbursement -- "when that day comes -- and it's coming" -- was also discussed. "We're starting to see a light at the end of the tunnel," Mayo said. "In the meantime, we're asking everyone to please continue to follow health and safety protocols and guidelines and take them seriously."
Mayo noted that there was no transmission of COVID-19 at either the summer or recent Town Meeting and Special Town Meeting "due to extensive planning and stringent face mask, hand sanitization, and social distancing protocols. Such measures really do work, and we hope the public takes all of this seriously and realizes it's what is going to get us through this pandemic as well as we can."
Thursday's opening of the new testing site "is an important step" in this process, Selectman Joseph Fisher said.
Selectmen Mary Power encouraged Hingham residents to support local businesses and applauded the leadership shown by the Hingham Downtown Association and Executive Director Lynn Barclay for planning some socially-distanced holiday festivities in lieu of Christmas in the Square -- which has been canceled due to COVID-19 this year -- and for offering online shopping and curbside pickup opportunities.
Is there a charge or fee to get tested?