Walgreens Limiting COVID Tests For Shoppers As Demand Surges

MINNESOTA — With the nation experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases coinciding with the holidays, pharmacies like Walgreens are seeing an unprecedented demand for related testing and vaccine services and products. The Illinois-based company announced Tuesday it is instituting a four-item purchase limit on at-home COVID-19 testing products in their stores and online.

See also: Omicron Cases Explode In MN: See Latest CDC Data

CVS followed suit with its own policy, allowing customers to purchase five at-home COVID tests.

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Between Dec. 12 and Dec. 18, omicron made up 92.3 percent of all new cases in region five, which includes Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Walgreens is hoping the purchase limit will improve inventory, and said it will continue to work with supplier partners to meet customer demands.

"We remain committed to meeting the needs of our customers and patients and are doing all we can to support our communities during this critical time," said John Standley, Walgreens president, in a news release. "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."

Walgreens said its pharmacy team members have administered nearly 55 million COVID-19 vaccines and more than 22 million COVID-19 tests across the United States. COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters are available in Walgreens stores across the country, and the company operates more than 7,200 COVID-19 testing locations.

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.

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Eric DeGrechie contributed to this report.