New schedule for Covid-19 testing at Fall River Fire Department due to ‘decreased demand’

Officials say though, it doesn't mean they're out of the woods at all.

FALL RIVER, M.A. (WLNE) – The City of Fall River will be offering less Covid-19 testing at the local fire department due to a decrease in demand.

Starting Monday, the fire department will only offer Covid-19 testing on Mondays and Thursdays between 8 A.M. and 1 P.M.

Since October, it had been offering testing everyday from morning to night, and some weekends. But now Mayor Paul Coogan says they’ve actually seen a decrease in demand.

“Some of the days at the height we were doing 400 tests a day, and we were down to 60,” Coogan explained.

Coogan says that at the worst of the most recent surge in the fall, they were averaging 200 positive cases a day. Now they’re averaging 50-60 new cases a day. Thursday they had 37.

“Definitely better news. But it’s not the news we want. The news we want is that everybody in the country is vaccinated and the disease is now dormant,” said Coogan. “When we get there, then I will say it’s good news.”

Chief of Emergency Medicine within Care New England, Dr. Laura Forman, agrees with that sentiment
about the region right now. She says though the CDC is projecting fewer cases, hospitalizations, and deaths from Covid over the next month, that forecast doesn’t account for human behavior.

“Could this be good news? Yes. Is it definitely good news? Absolutely not. We are nowhere near the end of this. It’s all going to depend on what the population as a whole does over the coming weeks to months,” said Dr. Forman.

Despite the recent decrease in cases in both Massachusetts and Rhode Island, Dr. Forman says the recent loosening of restrictions in both states will likely lead to riskier behavior, and a spike in cases.

“To be honest, I think we’re close. I think if we can just hold on a little bit longer, and stay safe a little bit longer, and stay distanced a little bit longer, and stay in our masks for a little bit longer, we could really round the corner with the vaccine here,” said Dr. Forman.

Dr. Forman also warned that what is likely to have a huge effect on things is how people act this coming Superbowl Sunday. She once again urged people to only gather with those they already live with.