New York State Senator Monica R. Martinez is Pleased to Announce Rite Aid Will Be To Opening Two Covid Testing Sites in Suffolk County

NEW YORK STATE SENATOR MONICA R. MARTINEZ IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE RITE AID WILL BE TO OPENING TWO COVID TESTING SITES IN SUFFOLK COUNTY 

MAY 7, 2020

(PATCHOGUE,NY): “I am grateful for Rite Aid’s effort and commitment during this pandemic. Rite Aid will be utilizing two of their Suffolk locations to make COVID testing more readily accessible to  residents who have not been able to travel to other sites. I would like to thank Rite Aid for this tremendous contribution to protecting community health,” stated New York State Senator Monica R. Martinez. 

Please see the press release from Rite Aid below: 

Beginning in April 2020, Rite Aid has been working with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services to establish Drive Thru Testing locations in a number of the states utilizing the Nasal Self Swab COVID-19 Testing concept.  In NYS, Rite Aid has established 3 testing sites at their stores located in Colonie (Albany County), Valley Cottage (Rockland County) and New Hartford (Oneida County), NY.

 HHS has authorized Rite Aid to open up 10 additional mobile COVID-19 testing locations in New York.  FEMA is supplying the Nasal Self Swab COVID-19 test kits. 

 Rite Aid will be setting up two test sites in Suffolk County at their store located at:

Store# 10673, 803 MONTAUK HWY UNIT D,  SHIRLEY

Store# 10662, 229 INDEPENDENCE PLAZA,   SELDEN

The Testing will operate under the following guidelines:

 ·         Testing will begin on Monday, 5/11/2020.

·         Testing will be free of charge to patients.

·         Testing is still by appointment only via www.riteaid.com . Scheduling of appointments will begin on Sunday May 10, 2020.

·         Rite Aid recently expanded its testing criteria. Testing will include all individuals over the age of 18 with or without symptoms.

·         A Rx from a doctor or health care provider will not be required.

·         Instead of using tents located in our parking lots like previously done, patients will arrive and come through the pharmacy drive through where they will receive a test kit through the drive through drawer. Testing will be completed in the confines of the patient’s car, sealed by the patient, and then handed back to the Rite Aid pharmacists through the drawer. Alternatively, some sites may use a drop box type kiosk for testing to be deposited and collected by Rite Aid personnel to minimize contact.

·         Rite Aid will be utilizing the self-swab nasal tests.

·         Clinical oversight for the COVID-19 testing program is provided by PWNHealth, a national clinician network that enables safe and easy access to diagnostic testing.

·         Rite Aid has partnered with Verily and will use its Baseline COVID-19 Program to provide screening, scheduling, and return of results to participants at Rite Aid testing sites.

·         Bio-Reference Labs will be doing the testing and reporting all results to NYDOH and County Health Departments.

·         At present, each site will have the ability to conduct 50 -100 tests per day.

 If you have any questions or need further information, please contact the following:

 ·         Nick Barrella, Senior Advisor, Park Strategies: (518) 469-3698; nbarrella@parkstrategies.com

 ·         Jermaine Smith, Sr. Director | Legislative & Regulatory Affairs, Rite Aid: (717) 214-8859;  jermainesmith@riteaid.com