01/21/2021

Rite Aid Expands Virus Testing

No-charge testing will now be available for ages 4 and older at all new and existing drive-through testing sites.

Retailers are an increasingly important part of COVID-19 testing and vaccination efforts, and the latest example comes from Rite Aid.

It said that it is further expanding its no-charge COVID-19 testing capabilities with 60 additional drive-through locations opening on Jan. 22 through its partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Additionally, no-charge testing will now be available for ages 4 and older at all new and existing drive-through testing sites. Previously, testing had been available to individuals 13 years of age and older. The new locations will increase Rite Aid's capacity for COVID-19 testing services in California, Washington, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, New Jersey and Maryland.

Like Rite Aid's existing drive-through testing sites, the new locations will utilize simple self-swab nasal tests overseen by Rite Aid pharmacists and will operate Monday through Friday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. Rite Aid's COVID-19 nasal tests are available for all individuals 4 years of age and older, regardless if they are experiencing virus symptoms, in accordance with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidance.

At all testing locations, patients are required to pre-register online at www.riteaid.com in order to schedule a time slot for testing. Individuals aged 4-18 may access testing with parent or legal guardian consent, with attendance and supervision of the minor required at the testing appointment with a photo ID. For children aged 4-12, a parent or legal guardian will create a Project Baseline account and follow the steps to indicate who the test is for. For children aged 13-17, creation of a Project Baseline account should happen only under the supervision of a parent or legal guardian.

Rite Aid partners with Verily and its Baseline COVID-19 Testing Program to provide screening, scheduling and return of results to participants for Rite Aid testing sites.

BioReference Laboratories provides COVID-19 laboratory testing.

Clinical oversight for the COVID-19 testing program is provided by PWNHealth, a national clinician network that enables safe and easy access to diagnostic testing.

Rite Aid will continue to provide regular updates on the company's progress with COVID-19 testing.