Drive-Thru Coronavirus Testing Site To Open At Machesney Park CVS

Jonah Meadows
·3 min read

MACHESNEY PARK, IL — Two dozen new drive-thru coronavirus testing locations at CVS pharmacies in Illinois are set to open Friday, CVS Health officials announced. The newest self-swab sites include the pharmacy at 8001 N. 2nd St. in Machesney Park.

The additional sites will bring the total number of CVS drive-thru testing locations statewide to 40, and officials said the company has reached a goal of establishing 1,000 testing sites across the country by the end of the month.

"CVS Health has been at the forefront of helping our nation scale-up COVID-19 testing capabilities, and we’re proud to meet our goal of establishing 1,000 testing sites in communities across the country," Larry Merlo, CVS Health president and CEO said, announcing the new sites.

The company aims to be able to process up to 1.5 million tests per month, as long as there are enough supplies and sufficient lab capacity.

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Amy Winchell, director of retail operations for CVS Pharmacy, said patients drive up, are given a test kit and directed to collect their own specimens while remaining inside their cars the entire time.

"Individuals who can be tested will need to meet certain eligibility requirements established by the CDC as well as state guidelines and age requirements," Winchell said. "We will be using a self-swab model at our drive-thru locations, all of the swabbing will happen at the drive-thru in the patient's vehicle in order to maintain the safety of the patients, as well as us in the store."

Each site is set up to handle about 50 tests a day, according to CVS Senior Vice President Sharon Vitti. More than half of the locations will be in communities with the greatest level of need, according to a social vulnerability index developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

"As we looked at where to put the 1,000 test sites we were very selective and thoughtful about making sure that we put them in various communities especially those that don't have as much access to health care."

The 24 new sites announced Thursday include four locations in Chicago, 14 in the suburbs, two in Central Illinois, two in Southern Illinois and one each in the Rockford and Quad Cities areas.

"Opening access to testing to more locations using our drive-thru window represents an important milestone in our response to the pandemic," Merlo added. "We remain grateful for the daily efforts and sacrifices of our front-line colleagues who make the continued expansion of our testing possible."

Patients can register online starting Friday for an appointment at the any of the following new Illinois CVS Pharmacy locations:

  • 2422 College Avenue, Alton

  • 1910 Montgomery Road, Aurora

  • 8911 Ogden Avenue, Brookfield

  • 2815 North Western Avenue, Chicago

  • 1930 West 103rd Street, Chicago

  • 3156 West 103rd Street, Chicago

  • 11055 S. Western Avenue, Chicago

  • 570 North Fairview Avenue, Decatur

  • 6210 Main Street, Downers Grove

  • 3200 Flossmoor Road, Flossmoor

  • 2000 Skokie Valley Road, Highland Park

  • 2375 Drauden Road, Joliet

  • 8001 North 2nd Street, Machesney Park

  • 14701 S. Pulaski Road, Midlothian

  • 7139 North Milwaukee Avenue, Niles

  • 3400 Lincoln Highway, Olympia Fields

  • 250 W. 144th Street, Riverdale

  • 2617 18th Avenue, Rock Island

  • 1111 North Dunlap Street, Savoy

  • 3434 Dempster Street, Skokie

  • 1801 North Illinois Street, Swansea

  • 16701 South Harlem Avenue, Tinley Park

  • 3001 West Washington Street, Waukegan

  • 1515 Sheridan Road, Wilmette

This article originally appeared on the Rockford Patch