CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. — Walmart and Quest Diagnostics have teamed up to set up a drive-thru COVID-19 testing center in Cheektowaga, according to the New York State Police.
On Tuesday, 2 On Your Side saw New York State troopers setting up cones in a Walmart parking lot on Walden Avenue in Cheektowaga.
A spokesperson from Quest Diagnostics says the drive thru testing facility is for all healthcare providers, first responders and anyone exhibiting symptoms of COVID-19. Quest says all appointments will be drive thru, observed self-collection in the Walmart parking lot and will begin Wednesday.
Quest’s online portal will screen and schedule individuals who meet the CDC eligibility. In order to be tested, individuals must have a scheduled appointment through the "MyQuest" online portal. To ensure everyone's safety, the test site is unable to service anyone who walks up. You must have an appointment.
Once you sign up online you will receive an appointment confirmation that you will need to have on hand when you arrive on site. Quest says anyone getting tested needs to make sure they bring their insurance card and valid photo ID for proof of identity.
Testing is not available in any Walmart store or in any Quest Diagnostics Patient Service Center, it is only available in the Walmart parking lot on Walden Avenue.
Quest Diagnostics does have COVID-19 information on its website. It was updated Monday saying, so far, Quest has completed about 800,000 COVID-19 tests and has with a capacity of around 45,000 a day.
Business Insider reported recently that Walmart is setting up 20 testing sites in 10 states. They say the sites will be staffed by the US Department of Health and Human Services and Walmart pharmacists who volunteered to help.
Recently, a temporary drive-thru testing facility was set up in Amherst for appointments only.
For more information on testing eligibility click here.