Rite Aid opens new COVID-19 testing site in Richmond, Virginia

US drugstore chain Rite Aid, through its partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services, has opened a new COVID-19 on-site testing site in Richmond, Virginia, which marks its 25th such facility in the country.

Rite Aid’s self-testing sites in its 25 store locations across eight states will be open from 9 AM to 5 PM, seven days a week, and will be able to perform around 200 tests every day with online appointments. On the whole, Rite Aid has the ability to perform around 5,000 tests each day across all locations.

The new COVID-19 testing site of Rite Aid is located south of Richmond at 3210 Boulevard in Colonial Heights.

All the Rite Aid drive-up coronavirus testing locations will use self-swab nasal tests, which are overseen by the company’s pharmacists. Testing eligibility will be based on guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

The COVID-19 testing will be done in the parking lot of each store. As part of the testing process, people should be seated in their vehicles from the time they come and until they leave.

Rite Aid opens new COVID-19 testing site in Richmond, Virginia. Photo courtesy of M.O. Stevens/Wikimedia Commons.

Testing can be availed by eligible individuals at no cost who meet criteria established by the CDC. Patients are required to submit government-issued identification, be at least 18 years old, and need to pre-register online for scheduling a testing time slot at the company site.

The drugstore chain has partnered with Verily and will use its Baseline COVID-19 Program to offer screening, scheduling, and return of the test results to participants at the Rite Aid testing sites.

Rite Aid has also selected BioReference Laboratories to offer COVID-19 laboratory testing to all drive-up locations with the aim of flattening the curve through accessible diagnostic testing.

PWNHealth, a national clinician network which is said to offer safe and easy access to diagnostic testing, will provide clinical oversight for the Covid-19 testing program.