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

Testing service now available across grocer’s Midwestern market area

Russell Redman

October 8, 2020

1 Min Read
Hy-Vee_storefront-exterior.jpg
The expansion of drive-up testing follows a launch of free COVID tests at 11 Hy-Vee pharmacies in late August.Hy-Vee

After a limited launch in late August, Hy-Vee has rolled out free COVID-19 testing to more than 150 pharmacy locations across its eight-state Midwestern market area.

Each pharmacy can test up to 12 patients per hour, Hy-Vee said yesterday. The West Des Moines, Iowa-based grocer initially offered drive-up coronavirus testing at 11 in-store and stand-alone pharmacies in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska and South Dakota. The expansion brings the tests to pharmacy locations in Illinois, Kansas and Wisconsin.

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.

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.

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. 

Related:Hy-Vee launches COVID-19 testing at selected pharmacies

Adults and children ages 3 and older are eligible to get tested for COVID-19 at the Hy-Vee pharmacy locations. Each site is offering testing windows on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings, with test hours varying by location. 

Overall, 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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