CVS COVID-19 rapid testing site at Twin River to close Saturday

LINCOLN, RI (WLNE) – Saturday will be the last day of operation for the CVS COVID-19 rapid testing site at Twin River in Lincoln.

Governor Raimondo made that announcement Wednesday.

The governor cited low attendance at the site for as one reason for the closure.

“That site was always meant to be temporary,” Raimondo said. “It’s time to unwind it. We are fully prepared for this. Testing demand runs well below capacity.”

Rhode Island will continue to use the Abbot ID test that is used at the site for outbreaks at nursing home or other concentrated locations, Raimondo said.

“We were able to identify 4,000+ positive cases at the Twin River site, which meant that we were able to get these people into isolation very quick;y, and were able to get these people into isolation very quickly, and were able to get their contacts in quarantine very quickly,” State Health Director Dr. Nicole Alexander-Scott said. “We want testing to be as accessible as possible.”

Raimondo added that you can still go to cvs.com to find one of 10 drive-thru testing sites that more than offset the volume at the Twin River site.

Rapid tests that are a little less accurate are not offered at these drive thru locations and it takes 2-3 days for results, Raimondo said.

Experts have previously urged the phaseout of the Abbot ID not test.