WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 21, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the
company's comprehensive efforts to help slow the spread of the
virus, on Friday, May 22 CVS Health
(NYSE: CVS) will open eight new COVID-19 test sites at select CVS
Pharmacy drive-thru locations across Louisiana. The opening of additional test
sites across the state and country will be announced by the end of
the month.
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 8 test sites in Louisiana are part 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.
"While the large-scale test sites we've been operating since
early April have proven successful, this new approach allows us to
utilize our presence in communities across the country and bring
testing closer to home," said Larry J. Merlo, President and
CEO, CVS Health. "Our frontline employees will continue to play a
critical role in the testing process, with members of their
communities directly benefitting from their dedication and
selflessness."
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.
"CVS bringing testing to even more people through some of their
drive through lanes will help Louisiana reach its goal of testing 200,000
people or more each month starting in May," said Governor John
Bel Edwards. "The more partners we have in this fight to
increase testing, the better. I am incredibly appreciative of the
support of private partners like CVS as we seek to slow and control
the spread of COVID-19 in our state."
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 new testing sites in Louisiana include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 5360 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA 70808
- CVS Pharmacy, 7777 Bluebonnet Boulevard, Suite 100,
Baton Rouge, LA 70808
- CVS Pharmacy, 705 Bertrand Drive, Lafayette, LA 70506
- CVS Pharmacy, 2105 Cleary Avenue, Metairie, LA 70001
- CVS Pharmacy, 4401 South
Claiborne, New Orleans, LA
70125
- CVS Pharmacy, 1600 Elysian Fields Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117
- CVS Pharmacy, 9194 Mansfield Road, Shreveport, LA 71118
- CVS Pharmacy, 2103 Gause Boulevard East, Slidell, LA 70461
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.
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SOURCE CVS Health