CVS wants to administer COVID-19 tests at 1,000 locations nationwide

CVS Health announced it will soon be able to test people for the coronavirus at many of its pharmacies during the president’s Monday White House briefing held in the Rose Garden.

CVS wants tests at 1,000 of its locations nationwide. Walgreens is also jumping in to help.

In a matter of days CVS will offer self-swab tests to people who meet the CDC’s criteria. It will perform them in parking lots and drive-through pharmacies. It will not take place within stores.

People visiting locations for testing will be able to make appointments online at select pharmacy locations, but those have not been released yet.

CVS Health’s goal is to process 1.5 million tests per month. It will be taking extra steps to ensure everyone has the opportunity to be tested.

“We recognize the virus is disproportionately affecting our minority communities,” said Larry Merlo, the CEO of CVS Health. “We are working with the National Medical Association to bring testing and care into the traditionally underserved communities.”

CVS had the idea of doing mobile testing to get right inside the underserved communities and bring the testing to them.

Walgreens is also working to test more people. It has 11 states right now with stores that do testing, including Florida. The company is hoping to open up more soon.