CVS Denies Hiding Positive Employee Coronavirus Tests

WOONSOCKET, RI — A Rhode Island-based pharmacy giant denied allegations it kept important data about coronavirus-positive employees from customers. CVS said pharmacies do not keep this information from patients.

The statement came in response to allegations from Business Insider claiming that leaked emails instructed employees not to tell patients when a pharmacy employee tested positive for COVID-19 if the medication had already been picked up.

"A Georgia CVS technician shared the internal email with Business Insider that asked employees to track down which prescriptions were filled by a COVID-positive employee and to pull them from the shelves," the article read in part. "However, the email also emphasized that if a patient had already picked up one of those prescriptions, the standard policy is to 'NOT make an outreach call.'"

Mike DeAngelis, a spokesperson for CVS, said, "It is not our policy to prohibit our pharmacies from informing patients if their prescription was filled when an employee who tested positive for COVID-19 worked in the pharmacy."

DeAngelis added Business Insider refused to provide a copy of the email in question "so that we could look into the anonymous accusation or the source of the alleged internal email."

According to DeAngelis, when a pharmacy employee tests positive for the coronavirus, any prescriptions filled while he or she was in the office are removed from shelves and replaced as a precaution.

"For patients who’ve already received their prescriptions, we cooperate with local departments of health and provide patient contact information as requested," he said. "In these situations, patients – if they choose to – can return and replace medications."