New Coronavirus Test Sites, More Capacity To Address High Demand

PROVIDENCE, RI — The Rhode Island Department of Health is reported heightened demand and long wait times at coronavirus testing sites in recent weeks. To help streamline the process, it's extremely important for everyone who wants a test to get an appointment in advance, the department said.

Joseph Wendelken, a spokesperson for the department, said that delays have happened when people show up without an appointment, arrive too early or late or sign up for an appointment and come at a different time entirely.

"We have been seeing increased demand at the testing sites lately," Wendelken said in a statement. "However, demand for testing continues to be very high. We are exploring additional options."

To help address these issues, the department increased hours and testing capacity at several locations, increasing the number of testes per day by 100 at the Rhode Island Convention Center in Providence and opening a new test site to the general public at the Wickford Train Station, adding about 500 more tests per day. Starting Tuesday, the site will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Previously, the Wickford site was only open to the K-12 school testing system.

Tests can be scheduled at portal.ri.gov.

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