BHS COVID-19 Testing Centers Holiday Hours

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The testing centers in Pittsfield, North Adams and Great Barrington will be open for regular hours most of the holiday season. 
 
Berkshire Health Systems (BHS) has been testing over 600 people each day at its three COVID-19 testing centers in Pittsfield, North Adams, and Great Barrington, and the need for testing is expected to continue to be strong throughout and just after the holidays. 
 
The Pittsfield and North Adams testing centers will be open daily during the holidays, including Christmas Eve, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., and closed on Christmas Day. Great Barrington will be open for its regular hours, 7:30 am to 12 noon, on Dec. 24 and 31 but closed on Christmas and New Year's Days.
 
The Pittsfield testing center is located at 505 East St., St. Luke's Square; North Adams testing center is located at 98 Church St., next to the city library; and the Great Barrington testing center is at 475 Main St., next to the town Police Department.
 
"As members of our community gather for the holidays, we expect that due to the current COVID-19 surge and the new Omicron variant that there will be a great demand for testing," said Dr. James Lederer, BHS Chief Medical Officer/Chief Quality Officer. "We want to remind people that if you are asymptomatic and feel you may have been exposed to the virus, to wait 5 to 7 days after the potential exposure to be tested, in accordance with the most recent guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Public Health."
 
Vaccination Clinics and Appointments
 
Berkshire Health Systems continues to provide COVID-19 vaccination, including first and second doses and boosters for all who are eligible through its testing centers in Pittsfield and North Adams, and at Fairview Hospital in Great Barrington. A community clinic being held at Berkshire Community College on Saturday, Dec. 18 will provide vaccination to nearly 1,000 people and is at capacity – and the Berkshire Vaccine Collaborative is planning a second community clinic on Saturday, Jan. 8, with more details to be provided early next week.
 
Appointments are required for testing and vaccination and can be made by using the Berkshire Patient Portal or calling 855-BMC-LINK (855-262-5465).

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Hinsdale OKs Police Department Audit After Fatal Shooting

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff

HINSDALE, Mass. — The town has approved $25,000 for an administrative review of the police department, more than two months after police fatally shot 27-year-old Biagio Kauvil during a mental health crisis. 

Town Administrator Robert Graves said the shooting on Jan. 7 is not the only focus of the audit, and it will be several months before the Select Board receives a final report. 

During a special town meeting on March 11, an article appropriating $25,000 from free cash for an independent consultant to conduct a professional evaluation and audit of the Town's Police Department was approved. The audit includes a review of the department's policies, protocols, operations, and procedures, and concludes with a written report. 

"The Berkshire County District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the shooting, and we await their conclusions.  As we look to move forward, the International Association of Chiefs of Police, our insurance company (MIIA/Cabot Risk), and our legal counsel have recommended that the town hire an independent law enforcement consultant or firm to conduct a comprehensive administrative review of our police operation," Graves wrote in an email to iBerkshires on Friday. 

"This event is not their focus; they will assess the overall operation. We want a written assessment of our police operation's strengths and weaknesses to help Hinsdale make future changes and improvements." 

He said after completing the procurement process and signing a contract with a reputable consultant or business, it will most likely be several months before the Select Board receives the final report. 

"Still, it will help the town and police department move forward," Graves wrote. 

Last weekend, family and friends of Kauvil stood in Park Square asking for justice. A flier for the standout reads "Biagio was killed by police while experiencing a mental health crisis. Now, over seven weeks later, authorities have not yet provided any updates.

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