Listen to this article

CVS Health is opening 11 new COVID-19 testing sites in New Jersey Friday.

These new sites, which will utilize self-swab tests, move the retailer toward its goal of opening up to 1,000 locations across the country offering the service by the end of May, with the goal of processing up to 1.5 million tests per month.

“While the large-scale test sites we’ve been operating since early April have proven successful, this new approach allows us to utilize our presence in communities across the country and bring testing closer to home,” said CVS Health President and Chief Executive Officer Larry Merlo in a statement. “Our frontline employees will continue to play a critical role in the testing process, with members of their communities directly benefiting from their dedication and selflessness.”

Self-swab tests will be available to individuals meeting the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria as well as age guidelines. Patients must register in advance online beginning Friday to schedule an appointment. Patients in their cars will be directed to the pharmacy drive-thru window where they will be provided with a test kit and instructions, and a pharmacy employee will observe the self-swab test to ensure it is done properly.

Tests will then be sent to a third-party lab for processing and the results will be available in approximately three days.

The new testing sites in New Jersey include:

• CVS Pharmacy, 1041 Pompton Ave., Cedar Grove, 07009
• CVS Pharmacy, 50 W. Madison Ave., Dumont, 07628
• CVS Pharmacy, 430 Westfield Ave., Elizabeth, 07208
• CVS Pharmacy, 29-00 Broadway, Route 4, Fair Lawn, 07410
• CVS Pharmacy, 1000 W. St. Georges Ave., Linden, 07036
• CVS Pharmacy, 221 Main St., Lodi, 07644
• CVS Pharmacy, 453 Valley Road, Maplewood, 07040
• CVS Pharmacy, 440 Bellville Turnpike, North Arlington, 07031
• CVS Pharmacy, 269A Livingston St., Northvale, 07647
• CVS Pharmacy, 150 Rochelle Ave., Rochelle Park, 07662
• CVS Pharmacy, 1319 Magie Ave., Union, 07083

CVS is the latest retailer to offer COVID-19 testing. Walmart announced Wednesday it would offer drive-thru tests at seven New Jersey stores in partnership with Quest Diagnostics, and Rite Aid began offering testing at 11 in state locations on May 11.

The state’s more than 18,000 licensed pharmacists are permitted to administer COVID-19 testing, per a “collaborative practice agreement” put forth by the Division of Consumer Affairs, announced Tuesday.

Gov. Phil Murphy has said he wants to boost the state’s testing capacity to 20,000 per day by the end of May, and 25,000 per day by the end of June, with priorities on vulnerable populations such as the elderly.