NJ Walgreens, CVS Limit COVID-19 Tests As Demand Explodes
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NEW JERSEY — As case rates remain high in New Jersey and demand for tests increases heading into the holidays, Walgreens, Walmart and CVS are now limiting the number of COVID-19 tests customers can purchase at one time.
Walgreens issued their limits first, allowing customers to purchase four take-home tests at a time. The policy applies online and in stores. The chain is hoping the purchase limit will improve inventory, and said it will continue to work with supplier partners to meet customer demands.
CVS then announced its own limitations on at-home tests, allowing customers to purchase five at a time. According to CNN, Amazon (10 per customer) and Walmart (eight per online customer) also issued their own COVID-19 test kit limits for customers this week.
Walmart, meanwhile has limited tests to four per customer.
“Due to the incredible demand for at-home rapid testing, we put in effect a four item purchase limit on at-home COVID-19 testing products in our stores and digital properties in an effort to help improve inventory while we continue to work diligently with our supplier partners to best meet customer demands,” Walgreens spokesperson Emily Hartwig-Mekstan told CNBC.
She said there is “unprecedented demand” for rapid at-home Covid tests, which started after Thanksgiving.
New Jersey logged 9,711 positive COVID cases on Wednesday, the highest daily record of new cases since the pandemic first began nearly two years ago, as well as 28 new COVID-related deaths.
The CDC says now that 75 percent of all new cases are caused by the potentially more contagious omicron variant.
"With heightened demand for COVID vaccines, testing and other services, in addition to the busy holiday season, our pharmacy and store team members are working incredibly hard every day. We ask that our customers please show patience and understanding as together, we continue to navigate the evolving pandemic environment," said John Standley, Walgreens president.
Walgreens anticipate 24- to 48-hour turnaround time for COVID-19 PCR test results. Rapid point-of-care tests are also available and results will continue to be available in less than 24 hours, according to the company.
With reporting from Patch correspondent Chris Mosby
This article originally appeared on the Woodbridge Patch
