WOONSOCKET, R.I., May 28, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Building on the
company's comprehensive efforts to help slow the spread of the
virus, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS) today expanded its COVID-19 testing
program by announcing five additional test sites at select CVS
Pharmacy drive-thru locations in Massachusetts. The opening of additional test
sites on Friday, May 29 add to the 21
locations previously opened in Massachusetts.
These new sites will utilize self-swab tests and deliver on the
company's commitment to establish 1,000 locations across the
country by the end of May, as originally announced on April 27. These new test sites will help
enable the company's goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per
month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity.
"CVS Health has been at the forefront of helping our nation
scale-up COVID-19 testing capabilities, and we're proud to meet our
goal of establishing 1,000 testing sites in communities across the
country," said Larry J. Merlo,
President and CEO, CVS Health. "Opening access to testing to more
locations using our drive-thru window represents an important
milestone in our response to the pandemic. We remain grateful for
the daily efforts and sacrifices of our front-line colleagues who
make the continued expansion of our testing possible."
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.
Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to state
and age guidelines. Patients must register in advance at
CVS.com beginning Friday, May 29
to schedule an appointment. Patients will be required to stay in
their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru, 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
Massachusetts include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 370 Pulaski Boulevard, Bellingham, MA 02019
- CVS Pharmacy, 114 Central Street, Ipswich, MA 01938
- CVS Pharmacy, 107 West Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201
- CVS Pharmacy, 2 Lafayette Road, Salisbury, MA 01952
- CVS Pharmacy, 481 Lincoln Street, Worcester, MA 01601
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
Joe
Goode, (401) 378-5220
Joseph.Goode@CVSHealth.com
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SOURCE CVS Health