US drugstore chain Rite Aid is expanding its COVID-19 testing sites with the addition of seven locations starting from 20 April, in the states of New York, New Jersey, Ohio, and Michigan.

The coronavirus testing sites are being opened in partnership with the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and will be open between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM on all days of a week. The Rite Aid COVID-19 testing sites are expected to undertake nearly 200 tests a day via online appointments.

All the Rite Aid drive-up COVID-19 testing locations will use self-swab nasal tests, which will be monitored by Rite Aid pharmacists. The drugstore chain said that the testing eligibility is based on guidelines determined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The testing will be done in parking lots of the Rite Aid stores, where people are asked to stay in their vehicles from the time they arrive and until they leave the premises.

Rite Aid coronavirus testing cost

Rite Aid said that testing will be available free of cost for eligible individuals who meet criteria set up by the CDC.

Patients will have to give government-issued identification, should be at least 18 years old, and will have to pre-register online at the drugstore chain website for scheduling a time slot for COVID-19 testing at the Rite Aid stores.

Rite Aid said that in coordination with HHS, it anticipates having more drive-up COVID-19 testing locations opening shortly at Rite Aid stores across the states of Delaware, Idaho, Michigan, New Jersey, New York, Virginia, Ohio, and Pennsylvania.

The drugstore chain has partnered with Verily and will employ the latter’s Baseline COVID-19 Program to offer screening, scheduling, and return of results to participants at its testing sites.

Rite Aid has also chosen BioReference Laboratories to offer COVID-19 laboratory testing to all drive-up locations with an objective of flattening the curve via accessible diagnostic testing. The pharmacy stores chain said that clinical oversight for the COVID-19 testing program is offered by PWNHealth, a US clinician network that helps in safe and easy access to diagnostic testing.

List of the new Rite Aid coronavirus testing locations

• Lansing, Michigan :  715 South Main Street in Eaton Rapids
• Flint, Michigan : 9090 Miller Road in Swartz Creek
• Detroit, Michigan :  46977 Romeo Plank Road in Macomb
• South New Jersey : 501 Clements Bridge Road in Barrington
• Cleveland, Ohio : 5795 State Road in Parma
• Toledo, Ohio : 7225 Airport Highway in Holland
• Utica, New York : 4854 Commercial Drive in New Hartford

  Coronavirus, COVID-19, Rite Aid, USA