HARTFORD — On Friday, April 17, Governor Ned Lamont announced that the State of Connecticut has formed a partnership with CVS Health in an initiative that will make free, rapid COVID-19 tests available to eligible Connecticut residents.

This includes the opening of the state’s first rapid testing site at the former Gateway Community College campus at Long Wharf in New Haven.

Using the new Abbott ID NOW COVID-19 test, CVS Health is planning to conduct up to 750 tests per day, seven days a week. All patients seeking to be tested will be required to pre-register in advance online. Testing will be overseen by licensed health care providers from MinuteClinic, the retail medical clinic inside CVS Pharmacy locations, with assistance from CVS pharmacists.

How it works:

*Anyone experiencing certain COVID-19 related symptoms and risk factors as defined by CDC guidelines, as well as those who meet certain requirements including state residency and age guidelines, are eligible.

*All patients must register online and schedule a time slot prior to arriving to the test site. Anyone who does not have an appointment will not be tested.

*Tests can be scheduled for the same day or up to two days in advance. To register, visit www.cvs.com/minuteclinic/covid-19-testing.

*The testing will not take place at CVS Pharmacy or MinuteClinic locations, but will be held at the former Gateway Community College parking lot (60 Sargent Drive, New Haven). For the safety of patients and health care providers, all patients must arrive in a vehicle. At this time, walk-up testing is not being offered.

*When patients arrive, they are required to remain in their vehicles. Team members will check their registration and direct them through the testing process.

*Health care providers, including nurse practitioners and physician assistants from MinuteClinic, along with New Haven Health Department personnel will be on-site to oversee and administer the testing.

*The process takes approximately 30 minutes from the collection of the swab to the delivery of the results.

*Testing is available at no charge to the public.

The former Gateway Community College parking lot was selected by state officials because it is an easily accessible area that is able to accommodate multiple lanes of cars at one time. The state is providing security, personal protective equipment (PPE) supplies for the team administrating the tests, and on the ground logistics.

“While a vaccine does not yet exist for this virus, one of the ways we can mitigate its impact is through increasing our testing capacity,” Governor Lamont said.

“CVS Health is uniquely positioned to play a vital role in helping support both local communities and the overall health care system in addressing the COVID-19 pandemic,” Troyen A. Brennan, MD, MPH, Executive Vice President and Chief Medical Officer, CVS Health, said. “Our ability to help coordinate the availability of rapid COVID-19 testing for Connecticut residents will bolster the state’s efforts to manage the spread of the virus and provide people with on-the-spot test results.”

“We see the effectiveness of COVID-19 rapid testing sites in other states like Georgia and Rhode Island, and I am glad that CVS Health has stepped up quickly to open a rapid testing site in our city,” New Haven Mayor Justin Elicker said.

“Not only will this new testing site significantly increase the number of people being tested, but the speed at which we can get results will aid in our effort to prevent further spread of this disease,” Gov Lamont added. “Public-private partnerships like this will only strengthen our state in the fight against the coronavirus. We appreciate the community outreach that CVS Health is doing here in Connecticut as their work is quite literally saving lives.”

As of Thursday, there were 1,926 people hospitalized in Connecticut with COVID-19, an increase of 18 from Wednesday, while 971 people have died from COVID-related causes, an increase of 103. Also between Wednesday and Thursday, the state reports an additional 1,129 positive COVID-19 cases were reported.

More than 53,000 residents have now been tested for the virus, and according to the state, about 30 percent of those tested are deemed positive for the virus.

For most people, COVID-19 causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

Associated Press content was used in this report.