By KENNEDY GRIFFIN
(Franklin County, MA) The Chairs of Joint Committee on COVID-19 and Emergency Preparedness and Management released a report on June 27th that reviews Massachusetts response to the pandemic and suggestions on how to improve the state’s response system. The report gives sixteen recommendations including: create a mechanism to report at-home test results to local and state public health departments, fund local contact tracing efforts, and to designate a “Special Assistant to the Governor for COVID-19 Vaccine Administration” for all vaccine efforts.
Also in Coronavirus news, The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Commissioner Jeffrey Riley announced Tuesday that the state will not provide free COVID-19 testing to schools for the 2022-2023 school year. Schools can still purchase self-tests for the school year through a statewide contract according to DESE officials.