WOONSOCKET, R.I., June 25, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- In an ongoing
effort to help slow the spread of the virus, CVS Health (NYSE: CVS)
today expanded its COVID-19 testing program by announcing 13
additional test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations
across South Carolina. The opening
of additional test sites on Friday, June
26 add to the 19 locations previously opened in South Carolina.
The opening of these new sites reflects the company's commitment
to meeting ongoing demand for testing, as well as expanding testing
capacity to respond to a surge in new COVID-19 cases. The nearly
200 additional test sites opening across the country this week are
among the more than 1,400 locations CVS Health has opened since May
and expand the company's testing capacity to more than 1.5 million
tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab
capacity.
In addition to the drive-thru sites, CVS Health has partnered
with a number of community organizations to open eight
rapid-response community testing sites across the country, which
aim to increase access to testing for uninsured and underserved
populations who are at highest risk for COVID-19.
"One of our greatest strengths as a company is our local
presence in communities across the country, which enables us to
uniquely expand people's access to safe and effective COVID-19
testing options and respond to a need for increased testing
capacity," said Larry J. Merlo,
President and CEO, CVS Health. "We continue to be grateful for the
commitment of our frontline colleagues who make these testing sites
possible and whose dedication has allowed us to keep our stores
open for customers seeking supplies and patients who need
care."
Nearly sixty percent of the company's 1,400 test sites across
the country, including 72% of sites in South Carolina, are in counties that serve
communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention'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 CDC
criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines. Patients must
register in advance at CVS.com to schedule an appointment. Patients
will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the
pharmacy drive-thru window or a location in the parking lot at a
few stores, 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 South Carolina include:
- CVS Pharmacy, 2500 Broad Street, Camden, SC 29020
- CVS Pharmacy, 2152 Savannah Highway, Charleston, SC 29407
- CVS Pharmacy, 194 Jacobs Highway, Clinton, SC 29325
- CVS Pharmacy, 7749 Garners Ferry Road, Columbia, SC 29209
- CVS Pharmacy, 510 Tom Hall Street, Fort Mill, SC 29715
- CVS Pharmacy, 1055 Red Bank Road, Goose Creek, SC 29445
- CVS Pharmacy, 2100 Augusta Street, Greenville, SC 29602
- CVS Pharmacy, 100 Rembert Dennis Blvd., Monck's Corner, SC
29461
- CVS Pharmacy, 609 Cherry Road, Rock
Hill, SC 29732
- CVS Pharmacy, 401 SE Main Street, Simpsonville, SC 29681
- CVS Pharmacy, 1888 Boiling Spring Road, Spartanburg, SC 29316
- CVS Pharmacy, 1515 Old Trolley Road, Summerville, SC 29485
- CVS Pharmacy, 601 Highway 17 North, Surfside, SC 29576
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. 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 www.cvshealth.com
Media Contact
Tara
Burke, (646) 765-4971
BurkeT1@aetna.com
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SOURCE CVS Health