New Call Center Helps RI Businesses Test Employees For COVID-19

PROVIDENCE, RI — Rhode Island is stepping up its coronavirus testing program for businesses. Starting Wednesday, the Department of Health's COVID-19 Business Testing Contact Center will offer support to companies looking to test employees.

The coronavirus testing program for businesses provides kits containing BinaxNOW rapid tests to companies on a regular basis. These provide test results within 15 minutes, and all for fast and easy testing at offices, manufacturing facilities and other workplaces. Since its launch in January, nearly 500 businesses have taken part in regular testing, the department said, spanning real estate, manufacturing, legal services, hospitality, and healthcare.

"Signing up for Rhode Island’s COVID-19 Testing Program for Businesses is a great way for employers to reduce the spread of COVID-19 in the workplace, minimize disruptions to productivity and staffing, and bring some peace of mind to employees," said Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott, the director of the Department of Health. "By launching this new COVID-19 Business Testing Contact Center, we’re making the experience even easier and more customer friendly."

The new contact center will be staffed by people who will provide support for businesses looking to take part in the program by phone or email. The center will be staffed Monday to Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 7 p.m. and from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekends. Businesses can call 888-662-4354 or email RIDOH.COVID19BizTesting@health.ri.gov to sign up for the program or ask questions.

Commerce Secretary Stefan Pryor applauded the move, saying his department is "pleased to offer testing program to our business community."

"This program enables participating businesses to add an important new element to their COVID safety protocols," Pryor said. "We are grateful to our government partners as well as to the businesses that are stepping up and taking part."

The department reminded Rhode Islanders to consider getting tested for COVID-19 frequently, to help the state's effort to identify and quarantine COVID-19 positive individuals as quickly as possible and therefore slow the spread of the virus in the community.