Kroger gives employees at-home coronavirus testing kits

Kroger is giving employees access to free at-home coronavirus tests, the company announced this week.

The grocery store chain said Wednesday that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted them emergency use authorization for their COVID-19 home kit.

Kroger said the goal is to be processing up to 60,000 tests per week by the end of July and it will make the kits 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 likely COVID-19 infection or exposure,” according to the statement.

A health care professional will guide patients through the nasal swab collection process at home through two-way video chats.

In partnership with clinical laboratory Gravity Diagnostics, 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 remains paramount to flattening the curve,” Jim Kirby, senior director of Kroger Health, said in a statement. “We know flexible, accessible 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 up public drive-thru and walk-up COVID-19 testing sites. The company reported that it has administered more than 100,000 tests across 19 states.