On Monday, April 6, CVS Health opened a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in Rhode Island. Results from the test will be available in minutes at the site, which is located outside the Twin River Casino. As many as 1,000 tests can be processed and deliver results for as many as 1,000 tests a day, CVS says.
There is no charge for the tests.
Jürgen Fälchle, Adobe Stock
CVS’ drive-through testing site, as well as another the company has set up in Georgia, will use the new Abbott Laboratories’ faster diagnostic kit, which can work in 15 minutes; the company plans to open four more locations soon
In its news release, CVS Health said that the tests will be held in large parking lots that are easily accessible and able to accommodate multiple lanes of cars at one time. Individuals seeking the test must meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, as well as state residency and age guidelines, and will have to pre-register online. COVID-19 testing will not take place at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic locations. Positive results can be delivered in as little as five minutes and negative results in as little as 13 minutes.
“We were the first in the country to get this out,” Rhode Island Governor Gina Raimondo said. “At 2,000 tests a day, we have some of the highest testing per capita in America.”
CVS will supply personnel from its MinuteClinic unit to oversee the testing, and the state will provide security and protective equipment.
