Gov. Dan McKee had a special guest at his COVID-19 briefing Thursday morning. White House COVID-19 Coordinator Dr. Ashish Jha joined McKee virtually to announce the nation’s first federally backed test-to-treat site is opening at the Clínica Esparanza/Hope Clinic in Providence. The new site comes as the White House announced more steps Thursday to make the antiviral treatment Paxlovid more accessible across the United States. The site will provide patients with immediate access to the drug once they test positive. “I think it is an innovative idea that Dr. Jha and his team have looked at and Rhode Island is so fortunate to be leading the nation in this effort with vaccines and boosters also being available at these sites,” McKee said. Anyone who tests positive at the clinic will immediately receive an assessment from a medical provider to see if they are eligible for oral antiviral treatment. If they are, they will receive the treatment onsite immediately.