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City, Schools offer Educators, Staff Free Testing

Message from Mayor Brodeur, Superintendent Kukenberger, Health Director Clay
Posted on: August 27, 2020 - 7:16pm

We are so excited to welcome our educators and staff back to school in the coming days. The Melrose Public Schools and the City of Melrose are committed to ensuring the health and safety of all of our staff. This Friday from 3-8pm the City of Melrose and Melrose Public Schools will be offering free COVID-19 testing to School Department personnel who have pre-registered. While this testing is not open to the general public, it is intended to empower educators and staff with the information they need to stay healthy as we embark on a new school year.

 

“Without a vaccine yet available, testing is our best tool to target and isolate the virus in order to stop the spread,” Ruth Clay, Director of the Melrose Department of Public Health said. “We are fortunate to be able to offer this testing and other supports to our educators and staff who play a critical role in modeling best practices for all of the City’s youth.”

 

Testing will be conducted by Cataldo Ambulance and processed by the Broad Institute, an academic disease research organization. The drive through format at Melrose High School is possible through the support of the Melrose Police and Fire Departments, the Melrose Department of Public Works, the Melrose Public Schools, and the Office of Mayor Paul Brodeur.

 

“Teacher, staff, and student safety is my top priority,” Superintendent of Melrose Public Schools Julie Kukenberger said. “This testing is a great opportunity for educators and staff to ensure their safety before embarking on a new school year full of challenges and opportunities.”

 

“The pandemic has introduced so much uncertainty into the lives of all of our families,” Mayor Brodeur said. “By providing our educators and staff with free testing, we all will have peace of mind knowing that the folks responsible for educating our kids are safe and healthy.”

 

All Melrose residents are encouraged to get tested regularly. Free tests are available as part of the Commonwealth’s Stop the Spread program at a number of locations which can be found at https://www.mass.gov/info-details/stop-the-spread.