19 Jan Walgreens Launches COVID-19 Index to Advance Rapid Detection of Omicron and Track Variant Activity
Data captured in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index tracks existing and emerging variants
DEERFIELD, Ill., and NASHVILLE, Tenn., January 19, 2022 –The Walgreens COVID-19 Index, a new interactive tracking tool from Walgreens, powered by testing data from Aegis Sciences Corporation, is among the first to uniquely identify the spread of current and emerging variants in near real-time.New data from the Walgreens COVID-19 Index shows more than 95% of all positive COVID-19 cases are presumed to be the Omicron variant. The data reinforces the importance of vaccinations and testing in helping to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
Data captured in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index can track the spread of the Omicron variant within 24 to 48 hours, more quickly than other methods. 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.
“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.”
Based on data analyzed as of Jan. 18, the following types of insights are available from the Walgreens COVID-19 Index:
- 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%)
“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 vice president 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.”
It remains critically important to get vaccinated or boosted against COVID-19, and is safe and convenient to get a COVID-19 vaccine or booster at one of Walgreens nearly 9,000 locations. For the best experience, patients are encouraged to make appointments for COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters through Walgreens.com/ScheduleVaccine or 1-800-WALGREENS.
Data will be updated frequently and provide a rolling snapshot of the previous 7 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.
About the Walgreens COVID-19 Index
The Walgreens COVID-19 Index is the product of an innovative pharmacy-laboratory collaboration focused on helping communities, health professionals and the media stay informed about COVID-19 surveillance. The Walgreens COVID-19 Index is generated through the combination of Walgreens nationally representative PCR testing services with the associated PCR and Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) laboratory test results generated by Aegis Sciences. The exhibits within the Index provide an overview of confirmed cases by state, presumed Omicron cases in near real-time, variant proportions over time and positivity rates by vaccination status. Walgreens and Aegis Sciences Corporation have collaborated to offer COVID-19 PCR testing at more than 5,000 Walgreens locations.
While generated from a large, nationally representative dataset, the data presented in the Walgreens COVID-19 Index is only reflective of real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT PCR) and NGS results from samples collected at specific Walgreens locations and tested by Aegis Sciences Corporation. It does not incorporate information from other testing modalities performed at or through Walgreens. 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.
About Walgreens
Walgreens (www.walgreens.com) is included in the United States segment of Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (Nasdaq: WBA), an integrated healthcare, pharmacy and retail leader serving millions of customers and patients every day, with a 170-year heritage of caring for communities. As America’s most loved pharmacy, health and beauty company, Walgreens purpose is to champion the health and well-being of every community in America. Operating nearly 9,000 retail locations across America, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, Walgreens is proud to be a neighborhood health destination serving approximately 9 million customers each day. Walgreens pharmacists play a critical role in the U.S. healthcare system by providing a wide range of pharmacy and healthcare services. To best meet the needs of customers and patients, Walgreens offers a true omnichannel experience, with fully integrated physical and digital platforms supported by the latest technology to deliver high-quality products and services in local communities nationwide.
About Aegis Sciences Corporation
Founded in 1990, Aegis Sciences Corporation is a laboratory sciences company based in Nashville, Tenn., that provides science-driven testing and consulting services to healthcare providers, pharmaceutical companies, professional and amateur sports organizations, leading college and university athletic programs, Fortune 500 corporations, and government agencies throughout the United States. Since launching COVID-19 testing in April 2020, Aegis has quickly increased testing capacity to meet the needs of communities across the United States. To date, Aegis has performed over 11 million COVID-19 tests and is the leading provider of SARS-CoV-2 genome sequencing results in the United States. For more information, please visit https://www.aegislabs.com/.
