In partnership with the Government Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) the number of drive-thru locations where individuals can get free coronavirus tests is increasing. In a press release, the large pharmacy chain said that 99 new locations will start operating today. They are located in 12 states, including New York, Ohio and California.
Anyone 13 years of age or older is eligible for tests, which consist of self-administered nasal swabs. As in existing locations, the new sites will be staffed by Rite Aid pharmacists and will operate from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., local time during the week, and from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
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All patients must complete a screening form and schedule a time interval through the Rite Aid website. They will also be required to present an identity card issued by the government. Minors must be accompanied by an adult.
However, Rite Aid operates 400 test sites in 16 states. As with the screening form and scheduling portal, test locations are available on the company’s website. In its press release, Rite Aid stressed that “it has an adequate testing capacity for symptomatic and asymptomatic people aged 13 and over who want to be tested”.
In addition to its partnership with HHS, Rite Aid offers free testing with the support and collaboration of several companies active in the diagnostic segment, including OPKO HealthBioReference Laboratories.
Rite Aid has been in the spotlight with health care investors recently, with far better results than expected in the third quarter it announced last week. But there seems to be some doubt that that overperformance is sustainable; on Tuesday, the stock fell by 9.3%, far exceeding the 0.2% decrease in S&P 500 index.