CVS Health opens more COVID-19 drive-thru test sites in area

SARASOTA — CVS Health is expanding its COVID-19 testing program with 30 additional test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thru locations across Florida, including three in Sarasota. 

The opening of additional test sites on May 29 add to the 47 locations previously opened in Florida, according to a press release. 

The new testing sites in Sarasota are at the CVS Pharmacy at 4301 Bee Ridge Road, the CVS Pharmacy at 3709 North Tamiami Trail and the CVS Pharmacy at 2811 Clark Road. 

The sites will use self-swab tests and deliver on the company's commitment to establish 1,000 locations across the country by the end of May, as originally announced April 27. The test sites will help enable the company's goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity.

Self-swab tests will be available to people meeting CDC criteria and 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, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions. 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. CVS Pharmacy, HealthHUB and MinuteClinic will continue to serve customers and patients, the release states. 

"CVS Health has been at the forefront of helping our nation scale-up COVID-19 testing capabilities, and we're proud to meet our goal of establishing 1,000 testing sites in communities across the country," says Larry Merlo, president and CEO of CVS Health, in the statement. "Opening access to testing to more locations using our drive-thru window represents an important milestone in our response to the pandemic. We remain grateful for the daily efforts and sacrifices of our front-line colleagues who make the continued expansion of our testing possible."