FRANKFORT, Ky. — The state of Kentucky had a deal sealed with a lab in Covington to drastically increase coronavirus testing. It had pinpointed the location of a drive-thru test site weeks ago.

But state leaders suddenly hit the pause button, worried whether supplies of protective equipment for workers and nasal swabs for collecting specimens for more than 200 people a day might stretch them too far.

Then, Cincinnati grocery giant Kroger reached out to Kentucky health administrators, offering a hand for free — with medical staff, PPE and the use of its sign-up portal.

The assistance allowed Kentucky to roll out its first state-run drive-thru site on Monday in Frankfort, where 97 people received tests, and to lay plans for a second site coming Wednesday in Kenton County.

The goal is to dramatically expand statewide testing capacity with 20,000 additional tests at several sites around the state. Public health experts say the shortage of COVID-19 testing has hampered efforts to battle the virus because test data allows communities to identify and quarantine ill patients and track the effectiveness of containment measures.

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Kentucky has tested more than 22,000 people, of whom 2,048 have tested positive as of Monday afternoon. At least 104 have died. The partnership with Kroger, along with a contract with Gravity Diagnostics in Covington to turn around tests within about 48 hours, put the wind back in the sails.

Kroger has made a big push in recent years to focus on ways to connect with consumers to improve health, wellness and nutrition. But it's come under fire from unions recently for failing to adequately protect store employees from the virus.

While the company has confirmed no cases of the virus among its employees, the chain began imposing capacity limits at its stores early this month to allow for better social distancing between shoppers and store staff.

In a statement, Colleen Lindholz, president of Kroger Health, said that the company's vision "is to help people live healthier lives, and it has never been more important as we help to expand testing across the commonwealth.”

She added that "we continue to make decisions that balance the safety of our associates with our commitments to our customers and communities. That is why Kroger and The Little Clinic will be donating all professional services at drive-thru testing facilities; these services include ordering and observing the COVID-19 tests."

At the drive-thru test site at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, workers from Kroger, along with several dozen state employees, began greeting a light flow of vehicles Monday morning after details for the facility were made public. Several news crews and reporters at the scene were kept more than 100 yards from health care workers in gowns near a cluster of white pop-up tents.

The free tests will go first to people already displaying symptom of the virus who work in health care, as first responders, or for those over age 65 and others with chronic health conditions that make them more vulnerable.

Kroger Health, the health care arm of the retailer, operates pharmacies in more than 2,300 locations. And to stay competitive with other chains, including CVS, Walgreens and Target, it started walk-in health services more than a decade ago with Little Clinic, which is now in 200 stores.

It provides nurse practitioners and other staff to administer flu shots and triage for sinus infections, seasonal allergies and other common illnesses that don't call for an emergency room visit.

Gov. Andy Beshear said Monday he's grateful for Kroger stepping up, and he indicated that the company isn't undertaking testing in any other states now. Grocery executives "said they ... really wanted it to be in Kentucky," Beshear said during his afternoon briefing.

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UPS is providing assistance with test kits and shuttling batches of samples by next-day air to the lab. Other partners, including the Kentucky Division of Emergency Management, the National Guard, the state police, the Transportation Cabinet and Franklin County are providing logistical help.

People seeking a test will use a virtual screening tool based on Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines to see if they are eligible.

Kroger is using its portal to allow patients to select their testing location and book an appointment. Once people register, they receive an email confirmation with pre-appointment paperwork to complete.

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At the test site, patients are asked to show a photo ID. Kroger officials said those coming for tests would self-administer nasal swabs under supervision from a provider.

Beshear said the ramp-up Monday showed they can expand tests and still not overwhelm crews on hand or the available supplies.

Kentucky residents can register at thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing or call 1-888-852-2567 (select option 1, then option 3).

Grace Schneider: 502-582-4082; gschneider@courierjournal.com; Twitter: @gesinfk. Support strong local journalism by subscribing today: courier-journal.com/graces