CVS Expands Free Coronavirus Testing To San Mateo County

SAN MATEO COUNTY, CA — CVS Health announced Thursday it is expanding its COVID- 19 no-cost testing program by adding 35 test sites at select CVS Pharmacy drive-thrus across California including San Mateo County’s first testing site amid a national COVID-19 case surge.

The opening of additional test sites on Friday brings the statewide total of CVS test sites to 142.

The nearly 200 additional test sites opening across the country this week are among the more than 1,400 locations CVS Health has opened since May.

The company’s expansion will bring its capacity to more than 1.5 million tests per month, subject to availability of supplies and lab capacity, according to President and CEO Larry J. Merlo.

Nearly 60% of the company's 1,400 test sites across the country, including 81% of sites in California, are in counties that serve communities with the greatest need for support, as measured by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Social Vulnerability Index.

The index tracks a variety of census variables, including poverty, lack of access to transportation and crowded housing that may weaken a community's ability to prepare for and recover from hazardous events like natural disasters and disease outbreaks. Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria, in addition to state and age guidelines.

Patients will be required to stay in their cars and will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window or a location in the parking lot at a few stores, where they will be provided with a test kit and given instructions, and a CVS Pharmacy team member will observe the self-swab process to ensure it is done properly.

Tests will be sent to an independent, third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in about three days.

Testing will not take place inside retail locations.

Patients must register in advance to schedule an appointment here.

Testing will open Friday at the following San Mateo County CVS pharmacy:

• CVS Pharmacy, 124 De Anza Boulevard, San Mateo, CA 94402

Patch Editor Toni McAllister and City News Service contributed to this report.