New COVID-19 Test Site Opens In Rhode Island; Updates To Others

PROVIDENCE, RI — There were several updates to Rhode Island's COVID-19 testing and vaccination sites this week, as the state grapples with a record-breaking surge in new cases.

According to Gov. Dan McKee's office, the state was using about 60 percent of its 10,000 test-per-day capacity before the current wave of cases. Over the past three weeks, the state added 5,000 to 6,000 additional tests per day to meet the increased demand, and continues to flex up capacity to address ongoing delays.

To make an appointment to get tested, go to portal.ri.gov or call 401-222-8022. To find a vaccine clinic near you, visit the Rhode Island Department of Health's vaccine finder website.

Here's what you need to know about new test and vaccination sites, and changes to existing sites.

CCRI test site

On Friday, a new COVID-19 test site opened at the Community College of Rhode Island campus in Warwick. To start, it will offer 750 appointments per day before increasing to 1,000 tests per day.

The site will operate every day from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments will be required, and rapid antigen testing will be offered.

Convention Center vaccination site

Also on Friday, a new vaccination site opened at the Rhode Island Convention Center, alongside the already existing testing site at the facility's ticket booth. The vaccination site is in a different area of the building from the testing location, in the lobby on the ground floor.

The site offers Moderna, Johnson & Johnson and both adult and pediatric Pfizer doses. After a limited number of appointments on Friday, more will be available next week.

Appointments are strongly encouraged.

Woonsocket test site

On Sunday, the state-run COVID-9 test site previously at the Woonsocket Thundermist Health Center will move to the Woonsocket Elks Lodge. The new location will open on Monday and offer 500 appointments per day. The move is intended to improve traffic flow and lessen backups.

Thundermist employees will continue to operate a testing site in the parking lot.

The Elks Lodge site will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are required, and both rapid and PCR tests will be offered.

Pawtucket test site

The testing site previously at the Stop & Shop on Cottage Street was moved to 675 Beverage Hill Ave. on Thursday morning.

The new site will allow for better traffic mobility, and will offer 500 appointments per day in addition to the 1,200 offered at McCoy Stadium.

The site will operate daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Appointments are required, and only rapid tests are available.

Cranston test site

The state-run testing site at the Chapel View Shopping Center moved to 100 Sockanosset Cross Road this week. The new site allows for more parking and indoor waiting space, as well as increases testing capacity to 400 to 600 tests per day. It will later be expanded to 1,000 tests per day.

The site also allows Rhode Islanders to get tested and get their COVID-19 vaccine at one site.

The test site operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Appointments are required and only rapid tests are available.

Central Falls test site

Also this week, the state-run test site at Blackstone Valley Community Health Care moved into the former Rite Aid building at 1114 Broad St. The new facility allows for more testing capacity and and more indoor waiting space.

On its first day, the site administered 1,800 COVID-19 tests.

The site operates weekdays from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and weekends from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The walk-up site does not require appointments, and offers both PCR and rapid tests.