On October 28 CVS Health announced the company plans to expand COVID-19 testing services and to add nearly 1,000 rapid-result test sites at select CVS Pharmacy locations.
Those rapid-result testing enables patients, who have COVID-19 symptoms, but with negative test to access testing and care for influenza and other seasonal illnesses at MinuteClinic. This option also available through Return Ready, the company’s comprehensive COVID-19 testing solution for employers and universities, according CVS.
1000 New CVS Health COVID-19 Testing Sites
The company tries to increase access to COVID-19 testing and help slow the spread of the virus. Recently the company said about their efforts to expand COVID-19 testing services currently offered at select CVS Pharmacy locations to include rapid-result testing at nearly 1,000 sites by the end of the year. The company is adapting some of the sites and adding new locations to be able to deliver rapid results at nearly 1,000 sites by the end of the year. Nearly 100 of these rapid-result test sites will be operational this week.
“Rapid-result COVID-19 diagnostic tests are available at no cost to patients who meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria.1 In addition, rapid-result tests may also be available as a testing option for eligible employees or students affiliated with an organization that has adopted CVS Health’s Return Ready return-to-work COVID-19 testing solution”, – said in the article.
More Than 5 Million COVID-19 Tests
To date, CVS Health has administered more than 5 million COVID-19 tests since March, and currently manages more than 4,000 drive-thru test sites at CVS Pharmacy locations in 33 states and Washington, D.C. Usually result became available within 2 to 3 days.
“Access to rapid-result tests enables us to help minimize community spread of COVID-19 by being able to more quickly identify active COVID-19 infection,” said David Fairchild, MD, Chief Medical Officer, MinuteClinic. “In addition, we can test and treat symptomatic patients who test negative for COVID-19 for seasonal illnesses such as flu or strep and provide appropriate treatment and care.”
To schedule an appointment client, need to register in advance at the company website. Testing is also available for patients ages 12 to 17; a parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration and must accompany minors ages 15 and younger for testing.
“When arriving for testing, patients are asked to follow signage or the instructions of the staff onsite. Procedures vary by location and patients may be directed to stay in their vehicle and proceed to a designated testing structure located in the parking lot or, in very limited locations, to enter a CVS store through a doorway specifically allocated for this purpose. Patients will be provided with a test kit, given instructions, and a CVS Health team member will observe the self-swab process. Patients will be directed to wait outside the store in their vehicle for results. The process, from the collection of the swab to the delivery of the results, will generally take approximately 30 minutes,” – CVS reminds.
Nearly 100 of the planned rapid-result test sites will be operational at select CVS Pharmacy locations in 22 states. CVS noted, that patients who access rapid-result testing and receive a negative COVID-19 result will have the opportunity to schedule an appointment at the on-site MinuteClinic for further assessment.
I am in Fargo, ND. I want know if the CVS pharmacy in Fargo provide COVID-19 nucleotide and antibody test. Thanks