Posted on January 26, 2021 at 11:33 AM by Garrett Whitney
Good evening. This is Mayor Mike Cahill with a quick update on the city’s mobile testing. Due to tomorrow’s stormy weather forecast, we have rescheduled the Lynch Park drive through testing to Sunday. So, the testing at Lynch Park will not be offered tomorrow. Instead, we will offer COVID-19 tests free to all Beverly residents on Sunday from 9 AM – 2 PM. Again, this weekend’s drive through COVID testing will be offered on Sunday from 9 AM – 2 PM at Lynch Park. Please take advantage of this opportunity, and let’s keep each other healthy.
As far as what is going on with the virus here in Beverly, please know that over the last eight days there have been 134 new positive COVID cases in Beverly, an average of 17 per day. This is up from about 7-10 cases per week in August and early September. Also, all the hospitals around the region, including Beverly Hospital, are seeing a significant and concerning increase in people needing to be hospitalized with COVID-19.
So, while small numbers of vaccine are supposed to be coming soon for front line health care workers and residents and staff of Long Term Care Facilities, it will still take several months for vaccines to be available for us all. And that means we are going to need to keep being careful. Wearing a mask lessens the risk you will transmit or contract the virus, as the mask can prevent or limit the viral load that gets transmitted by an infectious person and received by someone who comes in contact with that person. Consequently, mask wearing can at best help prevent the spread of COVID-19 or, in cases where spread still occurs, mask wearing may lessen the amount of the virus that gets transmitted which can limit how sick someone might get, improving their prospects for full recovery.
So please, wear a mask, keep your distance, and see other people outdoors as much as possible. Thank you, All. Have a safe and enjoyable weekend.