Kroger is giving employees access to free home coronavirus testing, the company announced this week.
The supermarket chain said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted them an emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 home kit.
Kroger said the goal is to process up to 60,000 tests per week by the end of July and that the kits will be available to other companies and organizations in the coming weeks.
Employers are responsible for the cost of the kits, which will be free to employees “who meet established clinical criteria for possible infection or exposure to COVID-19,” according to the statement.
A healthcare professional will guide patients through the process of collecting nasal samples at home through two-way video chats.
In alliance with Diagnostic severity from the clinical laboratory, the Kroger Home Collection Kit will be shipped overnight to be processed within 24-48 hours.
“As our country experiences an increase in COVID-19 cases, physical distancing, wearing protective masks, and testing remain paramount in flattening the curve,” said Jim Kirby, senior director of Kroger Health, in a release. “We know that accessible and flexible testing options, like home solutions that leverage telehealth technology, are critical to accelerating America’s reopening and recovery.”
Kroger Health, the health care division, in April opened public COVID-19 test sites for driving and walking. The company reported that it has administered more than 100,000 tests in 19 states.
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