*UPDATE* COVID-19 Test Sites Open for Appointments on Cape Cod
Outer Cape Health Services to Offer COVID-19 Asymptomatic Testing Beginning December 23
Affordable testing is now available in all four regions of Cape Cod PROVINCETOWN (12/23/20) — Outer Cape Health Services (OCHS) now offers COVID-19 testing options for asymptomatic individuals via outdoor “drive up” testing at its three health center sites in Provincetown, Wellfleet and Harwich Port beginning Wednesday December 23.
To receive a test, individuals must book an appointment in advance by calling Outer Cape Health Services at 508-905-2888. Tests for asymptomatic individuals are free through January 10, 2021 in partnership with the Massachusetts Department of Public Health with logistical support from Barnstable County and funds secured by the Cape and Islands legislative delegation.
"The demand for more accessible COVID-19 testing persists on the Lower and Outer Cape, and Outer Cape Health Services has risen to meet this formidable challenge," said State Senator Julian Cyr (D-Truro). "While our region continues to go without a sorely needed Stop the Spread site, Cape Cod’s health care providers and public health officials have persistently worked to close our regional testing gap and help more residents receive tests, quarantine if necessary, and save lives." “Once again, as Outer Cape Health Services has done throughout its history, they are stepping up to provide the best in healthcare and public health support for our communities on the Outer and Lower Cape,” said State Representative Sarah Peake (D-Provincetown).
Offering these free and low-cost tests will be a real game changer for the people that live here. They continue to be there for us and I am very grateful to them for all of these efforts.” The free antigen testing comes from a state Department of Public Health initiative to local health centers to provide free Abbott BinaxNOW™ COVID-19 Ag Card tests for COVID-19. The self- administered test provides a high reliability of the results. Patients who test negative will be notified via text message. Patients who test positive will be contacted directly by OCHS via a phone call. Tests may be billed to individuals with insurance but not charged a co-pay; however, no one will be turned away. Outer Cape Health Services will also continue to provide symptomatic tests at all three sites and bill insurance.
If an individual is exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19 or has been referred to testing related to contact tracing, the individual should call OCHS first for a telehealth screening visit.
For individuals seeking testing for travel related reasons, a $110 fee applies for the required PCR (Polymerase chain reaction) molecular test to meet state requirements.
• All individuals must call (508) 905-2888 in advance to make a testing appointment.
• Testing sites and hours for prescheduled appointments are: OCHS Harwich Port Health Center, 710 Rt. 28: Tuesday and Thursday, 1pm-3pm OCHS Wellfleet Health Center, 3130 State Highway Route 6: Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 1:30pm-3:30pm OCHS Provincetown Health Center, 49 Harry Kemp Way: Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday, 1:30pm-3:30pm After January 10, 2021, individuals will pay a subsidized out-of-pocket fee of $75 to receive an asymptomatic PCR test, unless the state extends their free testing initiative. No one will be denied a test if they are unable to pay. Updates for Drive-Through Test Facilities in Hyannis and Falmouth
• When calling to schedule a test at the Hyannis or Falmouth site, please note that the Community Testing Line has been changed to 508-534-7103.
• Test results are currently available within 24-96 hours.
• For individuals seeking testing due to travel, the out-of-pocket cost is $110. For asymptomatic individuals seeking testing to monitor their health, the out-of-pocket cost is $75. Accommodations will be made for those unable to pay, as no one seeking testing will be turned away.
• Test sites and hours for prescheduled appointments are as follows: Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm | Saturday and Sunday, 8am-noon Please note hours exception: on 12/24/20, this site will be open 8am-noon Barnstable County Fairgrounds,
Falmouth Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am-2pm
Please note hours exception: for the weeks of 12/20/20 and 12/27/20, this site will be open Monday and Tuesday, 10am-2pm. Regular hours of Tuesday and Wednesday, 10am-2pm, will resume week of 1/3/21.
These Cape Cod testing sites are supported by funds secured by the Cape and Islands legislative delegation and contributions by Barnstable County, Cape Cod Healthcare, and Outer Cape Health Services. In order to sustain these limited funds for four to six months, fees must be charged for tests administered to asymptomatic individuals. For full information regarding hours, costs, locations, and contact, please visit BarnstableCountyHealth.org.
UPDATE 12/22/2020:
HYANNIS (12/14/20) — Appointments for safe and more affordable COVID-19 testing services are available on Cape Cod at two testing sites across the region, beginning today. To receive a test, individuals must book an appointment in advance by calling the Community Testing Line at 508-862-5595. Tests for asymptomatic individuals are available for $75, and are offered for free to individuals who confirm their inability to pay when they call to book an appointment. For non-native English speakers, Spanish and Portuguese translation services will be available at both testing sites. Results are expected within 48 to 72 hours after testing at these sites.
Hours of operation and location for each of the testing sites are as follows:
- Cape Cod Melody Tent, Hyannis
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8am-4pm beginning 12/14/20
Saturday and Sunday, 8am-noon beginning 12/19/20
- Barnstable County Fairgrounds, Falmouth
Hours: Tuesday and Wednesday only, 10am-2pm beginning 12/15/20
- Additional information about testing, site hours, and scheduling is available at BarnstableCountyHealth.org
Tests are self-administered PCR (polymerase chain reaction) nasal swabs. The Hyannis Fire Department will be on-site at the Melody Tent in Hyannis to assist individuals with the collection of samples; public health volunteers will be on site to assist at the Barnstable County Fairgrounds site in Falmouth. PCR swab tests are currently the most accurate testing method for detecting an active case of COVID-19, but individuals must continue taking steps to mitigate transmission risk even after receiving a negative test result. Individuals arriving at test sites must wear a mask that covers their nose and mouth, and are strongly encouraged to do so indoors and outdoors when interacting with others who are not in their household.
Instructions for symptomatic individuals or those referred for testing by a contact tracer:
Individuals who are displaying symptoms of COVID-19 are asked to contact their primary care physician for an initial screening. If individuals do not have a primary care physician, they must call the Community Testing Line at 508-862-5595 to be screened by a Cape Cod Healthcare clinical provider by phone. Afterwards, Cape Cod Healthcare will contact screened individuals to schedule an appointment for testing at a selected drive-through testing location. Payment will be processed through insurance for symptomatic individuals or those notified by a contact tracer of known exposure to another person with an active case of COVID-19.
Instructions for asymptomatic individuals:
These sites were designed in part to offer additional COVID-19 testing capacity for individuals not displaying symptoms of the virus. For individuals who suspect that they may have had close contact with someone who tested positive for COVID-19 and have not been contacted by a contact tracer or for those who are taking additional steps to monitor their health, individuals pay an out-of-pocket fee of $75 to receive a test. No one will be denied a test in the event that they are unable to pay. Tests are $110 for those traveling from outside of Massachusetts and receiving this test to comply with state requirements upon return.
These Cape Cod testing sites are supported by funds secured by the Cape and Islands legislative delegation and contributions by Barnstable County and Cape Cod Healthcare. Although all involved wish all testing at these sites for asymptomatic individuals was free, fees for asymptomatic individuals must be charged to ensure the limited funds sustaining these sites do not deplete rapidly. The aim is to sustain this testing program for the next four to six months. Through the efforts of the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force, Barnstable County Government, the Cape and Islands legislative delegation, and Cape Cod Healthcare, these sites are able to offer COVID-19 testing for asymptomatic individuals at 50% below the regional market rate. The Cape and Islands legislative delegation continues to urge the Baker-Polito administration to establish at least one "Stop the Spread" testing site on Cape Cod that provides free for all individuals regardless of symptoms and operates in a manner similar to those in all other parts the Commonwealth. As of this week, the closest site of this kind to Hyannis is in New Bedford.
An announcement about testing sites on the Lower and Outer Cape is forthcoming; these sites will be made available in partnership with Outer Cape Health Services.
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 12.14.20_test_site_opening.pdf | 194.41 KB |
| 12.23.2020_ochs_site_rollout.pdf | 141.16 KB |