Slow Rollout of Drive-Up Testing Sites by Walmart, CVS and Others

Days after representatives of Walmart, Target, CVS Health and Walgreens pledged to set up coronavirus testing in their parking lots, CNBC reports their widespread availability remains more hoped-for than actual.

So far, only CVS  has opened a testing site, its first, which started operations Thursday in Massachusetts but is limited to police, firefighters, nurses and other first responders. These are referred there by government or public health officials, the news site said.

In the next few days, Walmart said it will open two sites and Walgreens said it will open one in the Chicago area. As CNBC reported, Target's plans have yet to be announced. 

And one of the four companies have apparently said when more sites will be added to the inventory or when these might accept members of the general public seeking COVID-19 tests.

The slow rollout so far seems to reinforce the concerns of health care reps and politicans, alongside worries about the availability of protective gear and other testing supplies. In the absence of any established treatments or vaccines for the virus, testing is all the more important, reinforcing calls for self-quarantines and helping people determine when to go to a hospital. As cities, counties and states expand shutdowns of all but essential services and urge residents to shelter in place, testing is so far perhaps the biggest tool officials have in the pandemic toolchest.

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