Simon Property Group, the largest U.S. mall operator, is leasing space to a COVID-19 testing lab operator at four Dallas-Fort Worth shopping centers and several others in Austin, Houston and San Marcos.
Outdoor testing kiosks under the brand Collection Sites will open by early February at Allen Premium Outlets, Grapevine Mills and North East Mall in Hurst. A testing site will open at Firewheel Town Center in Garland, another Simon-owned center, soon after.
The labs are operated by Medivolve, formerly QuestCap, a Canada-based company that recently changed its name as it emphasized a focus on medical services and technology.
The relationship with Simon is one of the testing lab’s biggest, said Ava Bahnam, chief operating officer of Collection Sites. The expansion into Texas already includes locations in Austin and Cedar Park. Others are coming soon to Simon malls in Houston, including Katy Mills.
Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, which is owned by Brookfield Properties, is also scheduled to get a testing site.
While Americans are beginning to be vaccinated, there’s still constant need for testing and experts believe that will be the case for some time.
Each site can provide up to 150 tests a day and results within 24 hours, with charges ranging from $59 to $179 for antibody and antigen tests. The company accepts most insurance plans.
Rapid tests for COVID-19 antibodies take no more than 10 minutes and are delivered by text or email. Appointments and payments are handled through Medivolve’s online portal: testbeforeyougo.com
Medical offices have been a big part of mall redevelopments in recent years because the properties are well located along major highways or at major intersections. Malls are also big employers and have a need for onsite testing, Bahnam said.
Results for the quick test that can detect antibodies is available in 10 minutes. “People also need testing results before they can go back to their jobs after being exposed or sick with COVID-19,” Bahnam said.
Twitter: @MariaHalkias
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