New York students K-12 will have the opportunity for COVID-19 testing prior to or at the start of the 2021-2022 school year through Rite Aid and BioReference
CAMP HILL, Pa. (26 de agosto de 2021) – Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), together with BioReference Laboratories, Inc., an OPKO Health company (NASDAQ:OPK), announced a ‘Back to School’ COVID-19 testing program offering students at New York State public schools the opportunity for free COVID-19 testing prior to or at the start of the 2021-2022 school year. Students will be tested using highly accurate RT-PCR laboratory-based COVID-19 tests.
To participate in New York’s ‘Back to School’ testing program, students must pre-register and schedule a COVID-19 test appointment at one of the 115 Rite Aid drive-thru locations throughout New York State prior to returning to the classroom. Testing appointments will become available prior to the start of the school year, and individuals are required to pre-register and schedule a time slot for testing at bioreferencelabs.bioreference.com/nyschooltesting. Students ages 4-17 must access testing with consent from a parent or legal guardian and be accompanied by a guardian at time of testing in the drive-thru.
The ‘Back to School’ program includes The Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT), which is a program that helps reduce disease spread in schools, ensures that schools are safe environments for learning, and supports the reopening of schools. The ICATT complements other U.S. government efforts to expand testing in schools, such as the Health and Human Services (HHS) Expanded Testing Initiative Hub Program announced in February, and the $10 billion funding announced by HHS in March through the CDC’s Epidemiology and Laboratory Capacity (ELC) Cooperative Agreement.
“Our work with HHS has enabled Rite Aid to be on the front lines of the pandemic since the beginning, doing our part to keep the communities we serve healthy,” said Jocelyn Konrad, executive vice president and chief pharmacy officer, Rite Aid. “Providing access to COVID-19 testing for school-aged children is critical, particularly for those who are not able to be vaccinated, as we continue to fight the pandemic and get closer to a return to normal.”
Digital results will be delivered to parents for students to bring to school. COVID-19 testing is voluntary and will be provided at no cost to the student’s family or to the school district for this program.
“As Governor, my priorities are now the priorities of the people of New York – and right now that means fighting the Delta variant,” Governor Kathy Hochul said. “Number one on the list is getting children back to school and protecting the environment so they can learn safely. As a part of our efforts, we are launching a Back to School COVID-19 testing program to make testing for students and staff widely available and convenient. We are proud to partner with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, BioReference and Rite Aid on this important initiative.”
“BioReference is proud to continue supporting New York State’s active surveillance programs with this ‘Back to School’ testing program,” said Jon R. Cohen, M.D., Executive Chairman of BioReference Laboratories. “It is imperative that we support programs that help to provide a safe environment for students to return to in-classroom learning.”
Información acerca de BioReference Laboratories, Inc.
BioReference Laboratories, Inc. es uno de los laboratorios especializados de servicio completo más grandes de los Estados Unidos, que permite a los proveedores de atención médica y a los pacientes tomar decisiones de salud con confianza. BioReference ofrece soluciones de prueba integrales y una experiencia sin igual basada en un legado de 40 años de ciencia comprobada, con énfasis en genética, oncología, urología y salud de la mujer. La compañía trabaja en red con los planes de salud más grandes de los Estados Unidos, atiende a alrededor de 19 millones de pacientes al año, dirige una red de 11 laboratorios y cuenta con el respaldo de un personal médico de más de 300 médicos, osteópatas, doctorados, asesores genéticos y demás personal clínico y científico profesional. BioReference tiene una presencia nacional y experiencia en un nicho de mercado, y ofrece soluciones confiables e innovadoras que satisfacen las necesidades de empleadores, organismos gubernamentales, sistemas educativos, hospitales y sistemas de salud, instituciones penitenciarias, ligas deportivas, industrias de viajes y ocio, y mercados minoristas. BioReference ofrece soluciones personalizadas líderes en la industria para la COVID-19, que incluyen pruebas en el lugar de atención y programas de análisis de detección a gran escala. https://www.bioreference.com/
About Rite Aid Corporation
As the trusted, everyday care connector, Rite Aid drives lower healthcare costs through better coordination, stronger engagement, and personalized services that help you achieve whole health for life. We provide an array of whole being health products and services for the entire family through over 2,500 retail pharmacy locations across 17 states. Through Elixir, we provide pharmacy benefits and services to millions of members nationwide. For more information, www.riteaid.com.
Contactos para los medios:
BioReference Laboratories
Hillary Titus, 201-406-9968
htitus@bioreference.com
Rite Aid
Brad Ducey, 717-975-5718Bradley.ducey@riteaid.com
