Board of Aldermen 4-14-2020 Page 13
Mayor Donchess
Yes thank you. The question on the masks, we have gotten masks and PPE from the State, those
requests need to go what is called the State EOC and from there we get various, we have gotten a couple
of deliveries of masks and other protective equipment. The exact number | am not sure, but | can get with
Justin Kates and give you that answer.
With respect to the Abbott tests, there is no question that we need more testing. It would be very helpful.
For example, the hospitals are very frustrated that they can’t get everyone coming into the hospital tested.
With a test like the Abbott test which takes a half hour for the result, that way they would be able to greatly
reduce the amount of procedure they have to go through with respect to each patient. Now they have to
treat every patient coming in as though they might be Coronavirus positive. If they had these tests
available, they could test everyone and probably rule out 99% of the people or a very, very high percentage
and therefore, could treat them with much less stringent protocols or procedures. This would save them a
lot of trouble and a lot of time and a lot of money.
However, these Abbott tests are not available. What has happened is that the Abbott Corporation, Abbott
Labs | guess it is called, has decided to distribute these tests through CVS. Those two companies rather
than the Government, is deciding where the tests are available. So in Lowell, there is a CVS that is offering
tests in the parking lot at the Lowell Cinema near the highway, that multiplex. If you meet certain criteria
you can get a quick result test. But basically you need to be either a First Responder or live in a Nursing
Home, that kind of thing, show some kind of risk factor and report symptoms and you have to be a
Massachusetts resident. We checked out to see if New Hampshire residents could go down there, Public
Health did that, and the answer was “no”.
But the fact that the nation hasn’t taken control of this and ordered the production of tests like these on a
much larger scale is a problem and the lack of testing is frustrating (inaudible). The bottom-line answer is
no that we don’t have (inaudible), that could be an echo?
Alderwoman Lu
That’s me | am sorry, hold on. There. (echoing).
President Wilshire
It didn’t stop Alderman Lu.
Alderwoman Lu
Pardon me?
President Wilshire
It didn’t stop.
Alderwoman Lu
Sorry (echoing continues).
President Wilshire
Can you put it on mute?
(Echo stops)
