CVS Health announced Monday the next phase in its COVID-19 testing initiative.

In addition to the large-scale test sites the company has been operating since March, CVS Health will utilize its community presence to bring testing closer to home while maintaining strict safety standards.

“Our industry has been united by the unique role we can play in addressing the pandemic and protecting people’s health,” said President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo. “We all share the same goal, and that’s dramatically increasing the frequency and efficiency of testing so we can slow the spread of the virus and start to responsibly reopen the economy when experts tell us it’s safe.”

Beginning in May, CVS Health will offer self-swab tests to individuals meeting Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria. The company expects to have up to 1,000 locations across the country offering this service by the end of May, with the goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month.

A CVS spokesperson said that the primary limitation is the availability of testing equipment and capacity of the labs to process the tests. The primary focus initially will be those CVS Pharmacy locations that have MinuteClinics.

There are more than 30 MinuteClinics in New Jersey.

Testing will be scheduled online and take place at select CVS Pharmacy locations in parking lots or at drive-thru windows; no testing will take place in-store. Employees participating in the test collection process will maintain safety using personal protective equipment and follow sanitization protocols after each test.

CVS Health’s COVID-19 testing strategy is driven by science, but also by the reality that minorities have been disproportionately impacted by the virus. The company has partnered with several organizations, including the National Medical Association, to improve access to testing and necessary care for historically underserved communities. CVS Health is also developing mobile solutions that will allow health care professionals to bring testing capabilities to these communities, and those same services can be utilized for businesses that will begin to re-open in the coming weeks and months.