CVS Health expands rapid COVID-19 drive-through testing sites to Michigan

CVS Health is expanding its COVID-19 drive-through testing to Michigan. The company today announced the launch of a new rapid COVID-19 drive-through testing site in Dearborn, Mich., in conjunction with federal and state officials. The site will provide state residents with rapid COVID-19 testing and on the spot results at no cost, using the new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test.

CVS Health has opened similar large scale rapid testing sites in Connecticut, Georgia, Massachusetts and Rhode Island, and since March, the company has conducted more than 35,000 COVID-19 tests.

Testing in Dearborn will be overseen by licensed healthcare providers from MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic inside CVS Pharmacy locations, with assistance from CVS pharmacists, and will take place in the parking lot at the Henry Ford Centennial Library at 16301 Michigan Avenue. Patients will receive results on-site in order to properly quarantine or seek treatment as appropriate. No COVID-19 testing will take place at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic locations.

“We’re delivering on our commitment to helping increase the frequency and efficiency of testing,” said Troyen Brennan, chief medical officer and executive vice president at CVS Health. “By expanding into Michigan, we now have five large-scale testing sites open to the public, which enables our dedicated team of healthcare professionals to process thousands of tests every day.”

Rapid COVID-19 testing will be available to eligible individuals who meet criteria established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in addition to state residency and age guidelines. Patients will need to preregister in advance at CVS.com to schedule a same-day time slot for testing. To help ensure the safety of both patients and healthcare providers, the testing site cannot accommodate walk-ups, and patients are required to remain in their vehicles throughout the entire testing process.

“We need COVID-19 testing now more than ever to get an accurate count of infections to help us continue flattening the curve of this unprecedented pandemic in every corner of our state,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer said. “Our partnership with CVS Health is a significant step toward speeding up Michigan’s recovery and getting Michiganders back to a sense of normalcy in their daily lives.”

The new testing site in Dearborn is part of CVS Health's efforts to expand access to COVID-19 testing to underserved, multicultural communities that are being disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. For example, while African Americans make up 14% of the overall population throughout Michigan, they account for approximately 33% of COVID-19 cases and 40% of deaths caused by COVID-19 in the state. To help address this issue, CVS Health is collaborating with organizations serving various minority populations to increase awareness of testing options in their area, including the National Medical Association, CVS Health said.

“As the nation’s oldest and largest organization of African American physicians, the National Medical Association and our members are doing everything we can to support our communities during this pandemic,” said Oliver Brooks, president of the National Medical Association. “Our collaboration with CVS Health will help drive more African American community members to rapid COVID-19 testing sites, improving access to necessary care during this crucial time. By working together, we can save lives and bring an end to this public health emergency.”

Utilizing its strong network of members and state and local societies, the NMA will help spread the word and encourage individuals to visit CVS Health’s rapid COVID-19 drive-through testing sites in Dearborn, Atlanta and other areas with large multicultural populations.

“Our rapid COVID-19 drive-through testing sites are helping increase access to testing for everybody impacted by the pandemic, but particularly for groups that have existing challenges with access to care,” said Garth Graham, CVS Health's vice president of community health and impact. “Working with the NMA and other community-based organizations can help us engage with underserved groups in these communities and make sure there is equitable access to testing.”