By JEFF TIRRELL
(BOSTON) — Massachusetts Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders has announced that the state’s Stop the Spread initiative, which provides free testing at sites in communities with higher COVID-19 case counts, will be extended through December. The program’s previous end date had been Oct. 31.
Governor Charlie Baker says there has been an expected uptick in cases, and he says it’s largely attributable to Bay State residents in their 20s.
“That community, more than any other at this point, is driving the single-biggest increases in cases”, said Baker. “Now, the good news is, most of them don’t get as sick as someone over the age of 60 would. But many do, and they do have the potential to pass it on to other people in their family or in their network who are older and for whom getting the virus could be a very terrible thing.”
Baker says it is important that residents continue to exercise caution and follow the known guidelines, especially as they begin to spend more time indoors.