6 State-Run School COVID-19 Test Sites To Close July 31

PROVIDENCE, RI — As Rhode Island's coronavirus pandemic response continues to evolve, six state-run COVID-19 test sites for school and child care centers will close by the end of the month, the Department of Health said Thursday. The sites will no longer be needed, since testing will be available to all schools in the fall, the department said.

In the fall 2021 school reopening plan released last month, state leaders emphasized the importance of testing at the school level. Districts will have the option to choose levels of testing plans, including symptomatic testing, outbreak testing and asymptomatic testing.

The six test sites set to close by the end of July were opened in September 2020 as part of the return to in-person schooling. Five more test sites will remain open.

The following sites will close after July 31:

• Bristol Stop & Shop Parking Lot: 605 Metacom Ave.
• Cranston Stop & Shop Parking Lot: 275 Warwick Ave.
• Lincoln YMCA Parking Lot: 32 Breakneck Hill Rd.
• Providence Stop & Shop Parking Lot: 850 Manton Ave.
• Smithfield Fidelity Investment Headquarters Parking Lot: 100 Salem St.
• Westerly Walmart Parking Lot: 258 Post Rd.

Along with the five remaining school test sites, there are 14 state-run test sites around Rhode Island, along with other sites at pharmacies, respiratory clinics, the offices of primary care providers and at mobile and pop-up testing opportunities.