Today, Tuesday, April 7, CVS Health has launched the operation of a rapid COVID-19 testing site in Lowell, the first of its kind in the state. The drive-through site will offer no-cost testing to Massachusetts residents and
will be capable of conducting and processing up to 1,000 tests per day, significantly bolstering the state’s testing capacity.
Recognizing the value of rapid testing to the state’s efforts to combat and mitigate the spread of COVID-19, the City of Lowell actively partnered with the CVS Health and key state agencies, including the Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHSS) and the Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), to facilitate the expeditious launch of the testing operation.
Testing operations will be conducted from the parking lot of Lowell’s Showcase Cinema, located at 32 Reiss Ave and accessible from Route 110 and Industrial Avenue. Shaun Judge of Showcase Cinemas readily offered
use of the parking lot, which was configured to accommodate testing by MEMA over the last several days.
Through the use of recently FDA authorized Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 testing, results will be produced in an average of fifteen minutes, enabling patients to be informed of the results before departing the site. The on-the-spot results produced through this method will allow healthcare professionals to advise patients on appropriate treatment instantaneously, thus aiding in the effective containment of the virus.
Massachusetts residents seeking a COVID-19 test at the site are required to pre-register on the CVS Health website. Individuals must be at least 18 years old in order to be eligible for testing, and must be symptomatic or part of a vulnerable population in accordance with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention testing criteria. No walk-up testing will be conducted at the site.
On April 5, CVS Health launched similar testing operations in Rhode Island and Georgia. The company has also operated a drive-through testing site for first responders in Shrewsbury since March.
“The high volume of testing that will be conducted at this site will build upon the relentless work of Governor Baker and Secretary Sudders to expand the state’s testing capacity, which is critically important in the effort to contain the spread of COVID-19,” said City Manager Eileen Donoghue. “This site will significantly increase access to testing for Lowell residents and individuals from around the region. We are grateful to CVS Health and the Administration for partnering with the City to launch this tremendously valuable operation.”