After surge in testing traffic, Walgreens opts for appointment only policy

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Lines formed as occupants awaited testing at the Middletown Walgreens.
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All Walgreens Pharmacy testing sites will move to a reservation-based system beginning Friday, Nov. 27.

Walgreens stores have been dealing with traffic snarls and back-ups as Covid-19 testing surges as the holiday period approaches.

Testing sites will remain accessible through the drive-through except for the Lancaster Pike location in Wilmington, which remains an indoor site. All sites will operate by appointment only.

Lines formed as occupants awaited testing on Sunday at the Middletown Walgreens. (Photo by Sharon Rainey)

All  Walgreens test sites close for 30 minutes daily to allow a lunch break for staff. To reserve an appointment, visit https://www.picktime.com/DECOVID19test.

The  State of Delaware will expand its partnership with Walgreens and add five new sites across the state beginning Tuesday, Dec. 1. The new testing sites include:

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  • 4465 Summit Bridge Road, Middletown, DE 19709, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday
  • 17248 S. DuPont Hwy., Harrington, DE 19952, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 11 a.m. – 3 p.m., Sunday
  • 2 College Park Lane, Georgetown, DE 19947, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday
  • 38627 Benro Drive #1, Delmar, DE 19940, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Sunday
  • 32979 Coastal Hwy, Bethany Beach, DE 19930, 9 a.m. – 5 p.m., Monday-Friday 

These new sites are in addition to nine testing sites operated by Walgreens, as well as 11 other permanent testing sites – five State Service Center sites and six Public Health clinics – available throughout the state. Pop-up community testing sites continue to be offered each week. The full list of testing locations, hours, and registration options are available on Delaware’s COVID-19 website atde.gov/gettested.

More  than 47,000 tests were completed last week, according to the Delaware Division of Public Helath.

Community pop-up testing site visits increased by 40 percent in the last 10 days, which has led to increased wait times in some cases.

“Curative testing sites have been averaging over 7,000 tests a day,” said DEMA Director A.J. Schall. “We are doing everything possible to accommodate everyone who wants to get tested, but we ask that you plan ahead and be patient.”

Due to increased demand, test result turn-around times may take longer. The public is urged to remain patient as laboratories work to process tests as fast as possible.

In addition, the high number of positive cases reported may also lead to a delay in positive individuals and their contacts receiving a call from the DPH contact tracing team.

Individuals who test positive are advised to immediately self-isolate for at least 10 days from the date symptoms started (or the date of the test for those who do not have symptoms), and contact anyone who they had direct contact within the 48 hours prior to symptom onset or test date.

Earlier on Tuesday, Rite Aid announced the expansion of its testing program. The pharmacy chain earlier announced it would charge $115 for a Covid-19 test, due to the loss of federal funding. Later in the morning, it was announced that funding had been restored. (See below)

With fed funding restored, Rite Aid will still offer free Covid tests at selected stores

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