LCHC Ready for COVID and the Cold

LYNN — The delivery of two new trailers next week will enable the Lynn Community Health Center to continue offering outdoor COVID-19 testing this winter. The 60-foot trailers, which will be delivered to the health center’s new testing site on Buffum Street next Thursday, will replace the tents that are currently used to protect patients and staff from the elements. The move, approved by both the Lynn City Council and Off-Street Parking Commission, became necessary after the building located on their current site in the Element Care parking lot, 9 Buffum St., was sold, according to Dr. Geoffrey Pechinsky, LCHC chief medical officer. Pechinsky said that regardless of what happened with the property, the health center was planning to move to a bigger site that was more conducive to having trailers during the winter months. Fortunately, there won’t be much of an adjustment for residents, as the new site is located across the street in the Buffum Street parking lot. With the cold and flu season coupled with an anticipated second wave of COVID-19 approaching, Pechinsky said the new, expanded walk-through site — slated to open later this month — will enable the health center to test up to 500 patients a day. “We have structured our staffing and operations to meet the demand for testing as it rises and falls in the community,” said Kim Eng, LCHC chief operating officer. “We are currently conducting between 150 and 200 tests per day, but at our peak in August we conducted over 300 tests per day. We anticipate our numbers will rise again as more people return to work, combined with the onset of cooler weather and flu seasons.” ...