December 22, 2021 By Carol Britton Meyer
The number of new COVID-19 cases in Hingham continues to climb, Town Administrator Tom Mayo reported to the Select Board Tuesday night.
Massachusetts Department of Public Health statistics indicate 167 new COVID-19 cases during the 14-day period reported on Dec. 16, compared to 80 cases over the two-week period reported on Dec. 2.
The town is currently in the planning stages for a local drive-through testing facility at 335 Lincoln St., the site where a new combined Hingham Police and Fire Department public safety building is proposed.
"It's possible that this site will be up and running by mid-January as our partner staffs up and procures the necessary supplies," Mayo said. "Our local emergency management team is actively working through the logistical details of using this site."
The town is also working with the state and private sector to understand how best to make at-home testing kits available to the public. More information will be available at a later date.
In the meantime, the state is offering lab-based PCR home test kits at no cost to eligible Massachusetts adults. Kits are reserved for individuals 18 and over who live or work in a congregate setting, are experiencing symptoms, have recently been in contact with someone with COVID-19, or who have otherwise been recommended for testing.
Visit the Pixel by LabCorp for Massachusetts webpage at https://www.pixel.labcorp.com/ma-testing for details and to request a test kit.
In consideration of the upward trend in the number of COVID cases, Mayo said, "We are asking everyone to continue to take precautions to protect themselves and others from COVID-19."
Public health protocols to prevent the spread of COVID-19 include wearing face coverings, practicing social distancing, and frequently washing hands, among other measures.
The overall vaccination rate for Hingham is now at 80 percent. If considering only vaccine-eligible individuals in Hingham (ages 5 and over), the percent of fully-vaccinated eligible residents is 85 percent, according to Mayo.
The MDPH recently reported that approximately 62 percent of Hingham children ages 5 to 11 have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine, and about 42 percent of residents ages 5 to 11 are fully vaccinated at this time.
Thanks for this update!