Enterprise-Record (Chico)

Rite Aid testing expansion includes Gridley, Magalia, Redding locations

- Staff reports

Rite Aid announced an expansion to its COVID-19 testing capacity that will add 161 additional locations nationwide, including locations in Gridley, Magalia and Redding.

The company stated in a press release that, similar to its current drivethrou­gh testing at select locations, the new sites will utilize self-swab nasal tests overseen by Rite Aid pharmacist­s. Testing will be available MondayFrid­ay from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Saturday-Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Rite Aid’s tests are available to all adults free of charge, whether or not they are experienci­ng symptoms associated with the virus. All individual­s are required to provide government issued identifica­tion, be at least 18 years old and must preregiste­r online at www. riteaid.com to schedule a time slot for testing.

The new testing sites include two in Butte County: 1583 Highway 99 in Gridley; and 14115 Lakeridge Circle in Magalia. One additional site is located within the region, at 1801 Eureka Way in Redding.

Butte County has one state testing site called OptumServe, which is located at the Silver Dollar Fairground­s in Chico.

Other testing sites include in Chico include CVS Pharmacy, Ampla Health Chico and Chico Immediate Care.

In Oroville, testing sites are available at its CVS Pharmacy and Ampla Health locations. The Oroville Hospital COVID

Rite Aid’s COVID-19 tests are available to all adults free of charge, whether or not they are experienci­ng symptoms associated with the virus. Those who are interested must provide government­issued ID and pre-register online at the company’s website.

Clinic, located at 2767 Olive Highway, also has a testing site, though it requires a provider referral.

Gridley also has testing available at Ampla Health at 520 Kentucky St. The Orchard Hospital Medical Specialty Center, located at 284 Spruce St., requires a provider referral to get tested.

Butte County Public Health addressed the “backlog” in testing during a Tuesday press conference as more people request tests for the virus. At OptumServe, appointmen­t times are currently booked approximat­ely seven days out. Other sites, including CVS Pharmacy and Ampla Health, are experienci­ng similar wait times, according to Butte County Public Health Director Danette York.

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