CVS CVS Health Corporation

By Sharon Terlep

CVS Health Corp. will hire 50,000 workers across U.S. locations to aid in responding to the new coronavirus, as big pharmacy chains set up drive-through testing sites outside stores.

The drugstore giant on Monday also said it would also offer 24 hours of paid sick leave to part-time workers and cash bonuses to employees who are required to work amid the outbreak.

Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. began offering tests to healthcare workers and first responders this past weekend at a Chicago-area location. Rite Aid Corp. on Monday plans to start testing at a Philadelphia site. A CVS testing site is Shrewsbury, Mass., about 50 miles west of Boston, opened last week.

The sites will be operated by health officials and aren't open to the general public. People getting tests won't be allowed to leave their cars or go inside the stores.

Write to Sharon Terlep at sharon.terlep@wsj.com

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

March 23, 2020 08:40 ET (12:40 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2020 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.