LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear on Sunday announced a new partnership with Kroger to get 20,000 people tested for the novel coronavirus in Kentucky over the next five weeks.

The partnership could almost double the amount of testing the state is able to do, Beshear said.

The first testing location will open on Monday at the Franklin County Fairgrounds, Beshear said, and more will open in the next two weeks.

The goal is for Frankfort's site to be open Monday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and use self-administered nasal swabs to test 250 people a day. Using the nasal swabs will conserve personal protective equipment, be less invasive and make room for more people to be tested in a day.

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Kroger will provide medicalstaff, PPE and a signup portal, Beshear said, and Kentucky is partnering with UPS and Gravity Diagnostics for more support.

People can register at www.thelittleclinic.com/drivethru-testing or call 1-888-852-2567 and select option 1, then option 3. After a person has been screened and if they are eligible for the testing, they should make sure to have their photo ID with them when they arrive for testing, according to Kroger.

Colleen Lindholz, the president of Kroger Health, said during Sunday's press conference that the online registration process will be a game changer in Kentucky's testing scene.

"In everything that we do at Kroger, it's all grounded and guided by our values and our purpose and promise, which is to feed the human spirit," Lindholz said. "Each decision that we're making during this COVID crisis, we're considering the safety of our associates and balancing that with the commitment that we've made to our communities."

Through the partnership, results would be available within 48 hours.

"What's really important is there is still a resource scarcity, and we need to make sure those who need to be tested the most get it," Beshear said.

Under that criteria, the new drive-thru testing is reserved for health care workers, first responders, people over 65 and people with chronic health conditions and the testing will be free.

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