Cape Cod A 'Testing Desert' Amid Coronavirus Surge

HYANNIS, MA — Barnstable County has continued to see a spike in coronavirus cases, and state and local officials expressed frustration that Cape Cod doesn't offer enough tests.

During Tuesday's media call with the Cape Cod Reopening Task Force, state Sen. Julian Cyr (D-Truro) said the region has not received the bulk of the $550,000 it was allocated by the state for testing. The money was awarded to Cape Cod in July as part of the state's supplemental budget.

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

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 needing permission from a doctor.

According to data from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Cape Cod towns are among the least-tested communities in that state. From Nov. 19, Cape Cod towns had between 490 and 6,700 tests per 100,000 people. The low testing rates have occurred despite Cape Cod towns like Barnstable and Wellfleet ranking among the highest in the state for new daily cases per 100,000 people. On Saturday, the county recorded 138 new coronavirus cases, nearly doubling the previous single-day record of 73.

Cyr added that local contact tracers are finding several possible sources of the spread of the virus. He said increased testing would help towns identify where the hot spots are and how many people are already infected.

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.