Cape Cod Officials To Address 'Testing Desert' Issue Amid Surge

HYANNIS, MA — State and local officials taking part in the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force are expected to address the lack of coronavirus testing in the region during a press briefing Thursday morning.

During the task force's media call last week, state Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) said the region has not received the bulk of the $550,000 the state allocated for testing.

The money was awarded to Cape Cod in July as part of the state's supplemental budget, but much of that money hasn't come yet. The issue has been amplified by a surge in COVID-19 cases on Cape Cod.

"Cape Cod is a testing desert," Cyr said.

According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Cape Cod towns are among the least-tested communities in that state. Cape Cod towns had between 490 and 6,700 tests per 100,000 people.

The low testing rates persist despite Cape Cod towns like Barnstable and Wellfleet ranking among the highest in the state for new daily cases per 100,000 people. Barnstable averaged 45.9 new daily cases per 100,000 residents, according to the most recent weekly report from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The spike has also jeopardized keeping schools open for in-person learning on the Cape. Barnstable public schools have gone fully remote through Dec. 11 because of the most recent spike.

Cyr said Hyannis also hasn't been included as a city in the state's "Stop the Spread" program. If included, the program would provide free testing in Hyannis without requiring permission from a doctor.

But because of a lack of testing and barriers like doctor permission and co-payments, low-income residents are disproportionately affected by a lack of testing. Tests can cost anywhere from $80 to $150 and are not generally given to people without symptoms, even though studies have shown asymptomatic people are also spreading the virus, Cyr said.

Also affected by the lack of testing are residents on the Outer Cape who have the longest travel distance to a hospital in the state. Some of these residents need to drive two hours to find a free testing site.

"Not having that everyday testing, that free testing, has just really provided a roadblock, and it makes it difficult with trying to get these things under control," said Sean O'Brien, director of the Barnstable County Department of Health and Environment.

The press briefing was scheduled for 9:30 a.m., Thursday. Check back in the morning for updates on the "testing desert" issue.