COVID-19 Testing at HCC Extended Through June

HOLYOKE — Even though infection rates have been dropping and vaccinations are becoming more readily available, free “Stop the Spread” COVID-19 testing at Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been extended through June, according to the Holyoke Board of Health.

Drive-thru testing at HCC is conducted six days a week in parking lot H near the western entrance to the Donahue Building on the college’s main campus, 303 Homestead Ave. Wait times for tests are not nearly as long as they used to be, according to site administrators, with only a handful of vehicles lined up at the busiest times.

HCC has been serving as a drive-thru testing site since last summer to help reduce the spread of COVID-19.

Drivers are asked to enter the campus from Homestead Avenue, turn left onto the Campus Road, and proceed to parking lot H. There will be signs and parking attendants on site to manage the flow of traffic.

The HCC testing site is open Monday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 7 to 11 a.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 2 to 7 p.m. Testing is free to all Massachusetts residents and conducted on a first-come, first-served basis. There are no appointments, and no referral is necessary. Turnaround time for results is typically four days or fewer.

More information on all of the “Stop the Spread” test sites across the state can be found at www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread.

Testing may sometimes be canceled due to inclement weather. Visit the Holyoke Board of Health website at www.holyoke.org/departments/board-of-health for up-to-date information on cancellations.