DEERFIELD, Ill. – Walgreens says it’s expanding its drive-thru COVID-19 testing to 15 news sites in seven states: Arizona, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Tennessee and Texas.
The pharmacy company says new testing sites will utilize Abbott’s new ID NOW COVID-19 test, which delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results within 13 minutes.
The 15 locations are being finalized in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). The testing sites will be placed in hot spot markets, where there are escalating rates of COVID-19 cases.
Walgreens says it plans to be able to test up to 3,000 people per day across these additional sites, which are expected to be activated beginning later this week.
“Walgreens remains committed to working with federal, state and local governments, as well as industry partners to meet the needs of the communities we serve across the country during the pandemic,” said Richard Ashworth, Walgreens president. “We’re continuing to do everything we can, both with our own resources and also by partnering with others, to serve as an access point within the community for COVID-19 testing. Opening our first drive-thru testing location last month has allowed us to quickly learn and develop an efficient and scalable process, and we’re pleased to be working with Abbott to help accelerate our efforts, and to enable quick results for those being tested.”
Walgreens will dedicate temporary space at select locations, outside of the stores, where Walgreens pharmacists will oversee the self-administration of the COVID-19 test.
Soon, patients will be directed to testing locations via an online assessment tool that will be available on Walgreens.com and the Walgreens mobile app.
Testing will be available at no cost to eligible individuals who meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
Patients will need to pre-register in advance in order to schedule an appointment for testing.
