Teens Now Eligible For COVID-19 Testing At CVS Drive-Thru Sites

CVS Pharmacy is expanding its drive-thru coronavirus testing, and now children ages 12 and up are eligible to be tested.

Anyone under 15 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. 

The company expanded testing to this age group because many kids are returning to school in person, said Bill Cuffari, a CVS spokesperson for northern Ohio.

“We’re re-introducing back into the public a lot of individuals that have been kept at an arms distance from being out in public for a great period of time," Cuffari said.

The tests are self-swab, which means the person collects their own nasal specimen. Adults are encouraged to help kids administer the self-swab test, he said.

The company is also expanding testing locations. It will offer testing in 20 Ohio stores including three locations in Cuyahoga County.

The new sites in the county are 13215 Shaker Square in Cleveland, 15501 Detroit Avenue in Lakewood, and 23351 Lorain Road in North Olmsted.

Locations were picked based on community need, said Bill Cuffari, a CVS spokesperson for northern Ohio.

“We identify areas and demographics and geographics that need this, [and] then those are obviously our first ones to show up on the books," Cuffari said.

The tests are at no cost to individuals who have insurance, according to a press release from the company. People who are tested can expect results within 2-3 days, Cuffari said.

To qualify for a test, people must meet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, he said. They should fill out a questionnaire about their symptoms and other testing criteria online, and make an appointment ahead of time.