Retailers step up to fight coronavirus

Major U.S. retailers are helping in new efforts to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.

On Friday, President Trump declared a state of emergency in the U.S., with dramatically increased response efforts to COVID-19. Executives from Target Corp., Walmart. Walgreens and CVS were with the president when he made the announcement.

The efforts include drive-through sites for coronavirus testing in partnership with leading retailers. Doug McMillon, CEO of Walmart, said the company would do “everything it can” to help and that a portion of the company’s parking lots would be used for people wanting to get tested. 

Administration officials also announced that White House is working with Google to develop a website to help people who think they might need a test, to determine whether a test is needed and to help facilitate testing at a nearby location.

In a statement, Brian Dodge, president of the Retail Industry Leaders Association, said that leading retailers are doing everything they can to help stop the spread of the coronavirus.  

“Utilizing parking lots and partnering with the government to expedite testing is paramount right now as everyone works to ensure public health and safety,” he said. “This is an unprecedented situation that demands an all hands-on deck approach, and community retailers are eager to do their part.”