WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing effort
to help slow the spread of the virus, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today
expanded its COVID-19 testing program by announcing 13 additional
test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across
Connecticut. The opening of
additional test sites on Friday, May
22 add to the 12 locations previously opened on May 15 in Connecticut.
These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and mark the next
phase of the company's nationwide COVID-19 testing strategy,
announced April 27. CVS Health
expects to have up to 1,000 locations across the country offering
this service by the end of May, with the goal of processing up to
1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies
and lab capacity. The 25 test sites in Connecticut are part of
a total of nearly 350 locations across 14 states including
Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New
Jersey, New York,
Pennsylvania and Texas.
"As we move into a new phase of combatting the pandemic and as
communities begin to safely open up their local economies, we need
testing to be easily accessible," said Troyen Brennan, MD,
MPH, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President, CVS
Health. "By further expanding the number of drive-thru test sites
available across our retail network, more people can be tested
closer to home in a familiar setting."
Once fully operational, more than half of the company's 1,000
test sites will serve communities with the greatest need for
support, as measured by the CDC's Social Vulnerability Index. The
index tracks a variety of census variables including poverty, lack
of access to transportation, and crowded housing that may weaken a
community's ability to prepare for and recover from hazardous
events like natural disasters and disease outbreaks.
"Increased testing is key to moving our state and nation forward
as we deal with this pandemic. I applaud CVS Health and Governor
Lamont for working to continue to expand testing in the First
District," said Rep. John B.
Larson.
Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to age
guidelines. Patients must register in advance at
CVS.com beginning Friday, May 22
to schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to stay in
their cars and directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window where
they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions, and a
CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to
ensure it is done properly. Tests will be sent to an independent,
third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in
approximately three days.
Testing will not take place inside any retail locations, and CVS
Pharmacy, HealthHUB and MinuteClinic will continue to serve
customers and patients.
The additional new testing sites in
Connecticut include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 81 North Street, Bristol, CT 06010
- CVS Pharmacy, 292 Spielman Highway, Burlington, CT 06013
- CVS Pharmacy, 47 Lake Avenue Extension, Danbury, CT 06811
- CVS Pharmacy, 15 Chesterfield Road, East Lyme, CT 06333
- CVS Pharmacy, 16 Main Street, East
Hartford, CT 06118
- CVS Pharmacy, 1770 Kings Highway, Fairfield, CT 06824
- CVS Pharmacy, 1657 Route 12, Gales
Ferry, CT 06335
- CVS Pharmacy, 690 Wethersfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06114
- CVS Pharmacy, 57 Providence Pike, Putnam, CT 06260
- CVS Pharmacy, 229 Hope Street, Stamford, CT 06906
- CVS Pharmacy, 1938 West Main Street, Stamford, CT 06902
- CVS Pharmacy, 2005 Norwich-New London Turnpike, Uncasville, CT 06382
- CVS Pharmacy, 355 Campbell Avenue, West Haven, CT 06516
A complete list of CVS Pharmacy drive-thru test sites can be
found here.
More information on steps CVS Health has taken to address the
COVID-19 pandemic, including support for health care providers and
clinicians facing financial and administrative strain, is available
at the company's frequently updated COVID-19 resource
center.
For downloadable COVID-19 testing media assets, including
photos, video and interviews with CVS Health executives, please
visit the Media Resource Center.
About CVS Health
CVS Health employees are united
around a common goal of becoming the most consumer-centric health
company in the world. We're evolving based on changing consumer
needs and meeting people where they are, whether that's in the
community at one of our nearly 10,000 local touchpoints, in the
home, or in the palm of their hand. Our newest offerings – from
HealthHUB® locations that are redefining what a pharmacy
can be, to innovative programs that help manage chronic conditions
– are designed to create a higher-quality, simpler and more
affordable experience. Learn more about how we're transforming
health at https://www.cvshealth.com.
Media Contact
Tara
Burke, (646) 765-4971
BurkeT1@Aetna.com
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SOURCE CVS Health