Walgreens has started operation on a new drive-thru rapid COVID-19 testing site in Fort Worth, a part of the pharmacy chain’s commitment to open at least 15 test sites in various states by the end of April.
The tests are conducted, as of Friday, free-of-charge on the premise of the Walgreens store located at 8600 Camp Bowie West Blvd. However, a prior appointment is required for individuals to take the test.
Walgreens pharmacists will oversee patients’ self-administration of the COVID-19 test, using Abbott’s ID NOW COVID-19 test, which delivers positive results in as little as five minutes and negative results within 13 minutes.
“Testing plays a critical role in evaluating our reopening strategy, and I am grateful Walgreens has stepped up to help us test more residents and ultimately help our community move forward,” Fort Worth Mayor Betsy Price said.
Free community COVID-19 testing sites for qualifying individuals are opening in the Fort Worth area through partnerships with the City of Fort Worth, Tarrant County Public Health, University of North Texas Health Science Center and UT Southwestern Medical Center.
Community testing sites will be opening across Tarrant County starting Friday, April 24. The first sites to open will include one near the Fort Worth hospital district and one in Arlington. Beginning Sunday April 26, locations and appointment information for the testing sites will be available at fortworthtexas.gov/Covid-19/prevention.
“From day one, we have known that testing would be a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19,” Price said. “I am proud of the work being done at our Joint Emergency Operations Center, as our city staff has worked tirelessly to get more testing centers set up. And I am so grateful for the community partners who have stepped up to make these new sites a reality.”
Community testing sites provide a free testing option for individuals that meet prescreening requirements. The sites will operate drive-through by appointment only for individuals that meet qualifications:
- Experiencing COVID-19 symptoms
- Resides within Tarrant County
- Has vehicle access
- Health insurance is not required
Additional community-based testing sites will open in different areas of Fort Worth and Tarrant County in the coming weeks.
Additional testing options by private facilities, including other free options, are also still available. Individuals who need COVID-19 testing, but do not qualify for the free testing site, can view a list of testing facilities operating in the Fort Worth area on the city website
Walgreens’ testing sites are being finalized in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and are planned for select hot spot markets with escalating rates of COVID-19 cases, the company said.
Walgreens plans to be able to test up to 3,000 people per day across the country.
Walgreens opened its first COVID-19 testing site in a Chicago area store in March.
A COVID-19 testing site in Dallas will also start operations on Friday, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson had announced. The Dallas site is located at 2060 S. Buckner Blvd.
Last week, Walgreens opened testing sites in Houston and Pasadena.