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Hy-Vee adds more drive-up COVID-19 test sites

Midwestern grocer now offers free testing at 165 pharmacies

Russell Redman

November 5, 2020

2 Min Read
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At the test sites, customers receive a self-administered nasal swab coronavirus test kit from a member of the Hy-Vee pharmacy team.Hy-Vee

Hy-Vee has deployed coronavirus testing to another 12 drive-thru pharmacies and extended testing hours at 21 drive-up pharmacy locations.

West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee said this week that, with the expansion, it now provides free COVID-19 tests at 165 drive-thru pharmacies across its eight-state market area. ­The Midwestern grocer launched coronavirus testing on a limited basis at nearly a dozen pharmacies in August and then expanded coverage to over 150 locations in October.

The new COVID-19 test sites include Hy-Vee drive-thru pharmacies in Cedar Rapids (two locations), Centerville, Charles City, Clarinda, Coralville and Dubuque (two), Iowa; Columbus, Grand Island and Kearney, Neb.; and Springfield, Mo.

Hy-Vee expanded coronavirus testing hours at drive-up pharmacies in four states: Ilinois (two locations), Iowa (five), Minnesota (11) and Missouri (three). Testing times and dates vary by location but run 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. weekdays and 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturday at most sites.

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Hy-Vee expanded COVID-19 testing hours at 21 drive-up pharmacies in Ilinois, Iowa, Minnesota and Missouri.

To get a COVID test from Hy-Vee, customers must first register online to receive a test voucher number, at which time they also will be given a specific testing site and an appointment time. Individuals don’t need to have COVID-19 symptoms to be tested, the retailer noted.

Related:Hy-Vee expands drive-up COVID-19 tests to over 150 pharmacies

Hy-Vee’s COVID-19 tests are coordinated by eTrueNorth. At the test site, patients provide a printed voucher number or show the voucher number on their smartphone. Next, they receive a self-administered nasal swab test kit from a Hy-Vee pharmacy employee, who explains how to perform the test and supervises the process. The patient then drops the completed test kit in a collection bin.

Each pharmacy location can accommodate up to 12 patients per hour, and the testing takes about five minutes, Hy-Vee said. Upon collecting all the tests, the Hy-Vee pharmacies ship them to a lab via UPS. Results are delivered via email in three to five business days. 

Hy-Vee operates more than 275 stores in Iowa, Illinois, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, South Dakota and Wisconsin.

For our most up-to-date coverage, visit the coronavirus homepage.

About the Author

Russell Redman

Senior Editor
Supermarket News

Russell Redman has served as senior editor at Supermarket News since April 2018, his second tour with the publication. In his current role, he handles daily news coverage for the SN website and contributes news and features for the print magazine, as well as participates in special projects, podcasts and webinars and attends industry events. Russ joined SN from Racher Press Inc.’s Chain Drug Review and Mass Market Retailers magazines, where he served as desk/online editor for more than nine years, covering the food/drug/mass retail sector. 

Russell Redman’s more than 30 years of experience in journalism span a range of editorial manager, editor, reporter/writer and digital roles at a variety of publications and websites covering a breadth of industries, including retailing, pharmacy/health care, IT, digital home, financial technology, financial services, real estate/commercial property, pro audio/video and film. He started his career in 1989 as a local news reporter and editor, covering community news and politics in Long Island, N.Y. His background also includes an earlier stint at Supermarket News as center store editor and then financial editor in the mid-1990s. Russ holds a B.A. in journalism (minor in political science) from Hofstra University, where he also earned a certificate in digital/social media marketing in November 2016.

Russell Redman’s experience:

Supermarket News - Informa
Senior Editor 
April 2018 - present

Chain Drug Review/Mass Market Retailers - Racher Press
Desk/Online Editor 
Sept. 2008 - March 2018

CRN magazine - CMP Media
Managing Editor
May 2000 - June 2007

Bank Systems & Technology - Miller Freeman
Executive Editor/Managing Editor
Dec. 1996 - May 2000

Supermarket News - Fairchild Publications
Financial Editor/Associate Editor
April 1995 - Dec. 1996 

Shopping Centers Today Magazine - ICSC 
Desk Editor/Assistant Editor
Dec. 1992 - April 1995

Testa Communications
Assistant Editor/Contributing Editor (Music & Sound Retailer, Post, Producer, Sound & Communications and DJ Times magazines)
Jan. 1991 - Dec. 1992 

American Banker/Bond Buyer
Copy Editor
Oct. 1990 - Jan. 1991 

This Week newspaper - Chanry Communications
Reporter/Editor
May 1989 - July 1990

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