Walgreens unveils interactive COVID-19 tracker

Walgreens is identifying the spread of current and emerging COVID-19 variants in near real-time.

The drugstore giant is leveraging testing data from Aegis Sciences Corp. in its new Walgreens COVID-19 Index. Data captured in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index can track the spread of the Omicron variant within 24 to 48 hours. In addition to a national view, data can be reviewed by state. The Walgreens COVID-19 Index is based on proprietary data from PCR testing services administered by Walgreens and performed by its testing partner Aegis Sciences.

Initial Walgreens COVID-19 Index findings
Based on data analyzed as of Jan. 18, 2021, COVID-19 insights available from the Walgreens COVID-19 Index include:

• Nationally, more than 95% of all positive cases are presumed to be the Omicron variant.
• Top states for COVID-19 positive rates are Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi, South Dakota, Nevada, and Texas, which all have COVID-19 positivity rates over 45% of those tested.
• Top states for confirmed Delta case prevalence are Maine (43.5%), Kansas (36.5%), Iowa (29.2%), New Mexico (25.2%), Oklahoma (24.2%), Indiana (23.6%), and Utah (23.5%).

According to Walgreens, data from the Index will be updated frequently and provide a rolling snapshot of the previous seven days’ data based on analysis of positive tests at more than 5,000 Walgreens testing locations. To view the Walgreens COVID-19 Index, maps and other online features, click here.

Walgreens provided 13.5 million COVID-19 vaccinations in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2021, and 34.6 million for the entire fiscal year. The company also plans to launch Walgreens Health, a new business segment it described as a “technology-enabled care model powered by a nationally scaled, locally delivered healthcare platform,” and has partnered with Uber to provide free rides to Walgreens stores and offsite vaccine clinics for members of underserved communities to receive COVID-19 vaccinations since February 2021.

“Through Walgreens partnership with Aegis Sciences, we have the ability to provide this interactive tracking tool and inform the development of strategies and resources to help mitigate the spread of COVID-19,” said Dr. Kevin Ban, chief medical officer for Walgreens. “This provides a leading consumer-centric healthcare solution to support our communities and partners, building on our nationwide footprint and health offerings.”

“Data regarding spread of variants is important to our understanding of viral transmission and, as new variants emerge, it will be critical to continue to track this information quickly to predict which communities are most at risk,” said Dr. Matthew Hardison, senior VP of lab operations at Aegis Sciences Corporation. “We are pleased to partner with Walgreens to provide testing, collaborate on data analysis and provide timely insights that can help health departments curtail the COVID-19 pandemic.”

Walgreens and Aegis Sciences Corporation have collaborated to offer COVID-19 PCR testing at more than 5,000 Walgreens locations. Data regarding vaccination status is derived from information supplied in the test registration process by individuals that tested at Walgreens locations. The amount of data available varies by geographic location. All data presented in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index is aggregated and de-identified to protect individuals’ privacy.

Based in Deerfield, Ill., Walgreens operates nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.