CVS adds drive-through COVID-19 testing sites

On Friday, CVS Health is opening 50 new COVID-19 drive-through test sites at CVS Pharmacy locations across Texas, including Texarkana.

The sites are part of the company’s plan to add more than 2,000 new COVID-19 drive-through test sites at select locations across the country by mid-October to increase access to testing and help slow the spread of the virus.

Texarkana’s CVS Pharmacy testing location is 1901 Richmond Road on the Texas side of town.

The no-charge, self-swab test is available to individuals who meet Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. Patients must register in advance at CVS.com to schedule an appointment.

People age 12 years and older are eligible for COVID-19 testing at these sites. A parent or legal guardian must complete the online registration for all minor patients, and patients 12–15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian when they come to be tested.

CVS Health says it plans to double its plans to double its drivethrough test sites to a total of more than 4,000 by mid-October.

The new locations will open in waves over the next several weeks.

When arriving for testing, patients are asked to follow signage or the instructions of the staff onsite. Currently, most test results will be available within 2 to 3 days.

COVID-19 tests are no cost to patients with insurance or through a program for the uninsured funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.