CCRI Coronavirus Test Site To Close

WARWICK, RI — The coronavirus test site at the Community College of Rhode Island in Warwick will close this weekend, the Rhode Island Department of Health announced Friday. The last day for testing at the site will be Sunday.

The department announced the imminent closure earlier this week, when a new test site opened in the parking garage of the Rhode Island Convention Center. The new site replaces both CCRI and Rhode Island College, while increasing testing capacity and allowing tests to be conducted regardless of the weather.

The CCRI test site was set up along with RIC and the University of Rhode Island at the height of the coronavirus pandemic, staffed by the Rhode Island National Guard. URI's site closed in late April due to low demand and RIC on Monday. As time passes, state health officials are incorporating testing more into communities, rather than relying on large-scale test sites.

The new convention center site is drive-up and operational from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on weekends. Tests are available by appointment only. Anyone with symptoms is asked to reach out to their primary care provider, while certain asymptomatic Rhode Islanders can get tested by making an appointment online.