PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Health Systems' three COVID-19 testing centers are now open as part of the state's Stop the Spread Program for free community testing. 

 

Access to COVID-19 testing, either through the Stop the Spread program or for symptomatic testing, is by appointment only. Individuals MUST call the BHS COVID-19 Hotline, 855-BMC-LINK, or 855-262-5465, which is available daily from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

 

Gov. Charlie Baker announced on Monday the addition of three Berkshire County sites to the program.  The commonwealth will be supporting free COVID-19 testing in 25 communities — up from eight when the state announced its Stop the Spread testing initiative in July.

 

Stop the Spread is a cost-free surveillance testing for individuals who are asymptomatic and want to be tested for COVID-19. 

 

The announcement comes at a time when the state is well into its "second surge" of COVID-19 cases and was paired with an announcement that, effective Friday, hospitals across the commonwealth will be cutting back on elective, in-patient procedures.

 

Stop the Spread is aimed to provide expanded testing in communities where positive test rates are above the state average and testing volume has fallen off. Berkshire County has seen a dramatic increase in cases since the beginning of November, though still below the state average that has continued to climb.

 

BHS set up the first testing center outside Berkshire Medical Center and added two more testing centers — one in Great Barrington and one in North Adams — over the summer. They have largely been used for screening patients. 

 

The centers will continue to operate as the primary community testing sites for Berkshire Health Systems and have expanded hours to accommodate an estimated additional 1,000 tests per week countywide.

 

Testing will also continue to be conducted at the three centers for those who symptomatic or had close contact with someone who has tested COVID-19 positive, the cost of which will be covered by the individual’s insurer.

 

Stop the Spread provides for free and expanded community testing for anyone who qualifies under the state program. A similar program was operated in the spring for anyone who had attended the large protests that occurred after the killing of George Floyd in police custody. 

 

Two of the three BHS Testing Centers are located in an indoor setting, with the third moving indoors on Dec. 17. The centers are located in:

 

Pittsfield: 505 East St., St Luke's Square, adjacent to BHS Urgent Care; open daily from 8:30 to 4.

North Adams: 98 Church St., next to the North Adams Library; open daily from 8:30 to 4.

Great Barrington: Drive-thru tent at 10 Maple Ave. until Thursday, Dec. 17; open daily from 8 to noon

Great Barrington: Opens Dec. 17 at 475 Main St., next to the Police Department; open daily from 8 to noon.

 

All centers will be closed on Christmas and New Year's Day.