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At-risk groups in Wake County have new COVID-19 drive-thru tesing site

The Wake County Health Department has launched a new mobile COVID-19 testing site.

Posted Updated

By
Lora Lavigne
, WRAL multimedia journalist
RALEIGH, N.C. — The Wake County Health Department has launched a new mobile COVID-19 testing site.

The portable testing site at the Wake County Commons building will help health care workers track the spread of the virus in the county and make sure more testing is available for at-risk groups.

Dozens of cars came rolling in as the site opened. Residents had to register online to secure a time slot.

“During those five hour blocks, we can test 200 people. So, 40 per hour. As of this morning, probably an hour before we started, there were 192 people already signed up for today,’ said Chris Kippes, the Wake County Public Health Division Director.

The tests are reserved for those who have COVID-like symptoms, have been in close contact with a known positive case, health care workers, first-responders or people who are 65 and older.

"COVID-19 does not discriminate. It goes for older, younger people. In fact, the median age for people that are positive in Wake County is around 47 years old," said Dara Demi, the Communications Director.

The staff said most at-risk groups aren’t able to, or prefer not, to test at other locations. The new site avoids long lines and has efficient self-administered testing.

“And they take the end that was in their nostril and they put it in this little container that has a little liquid and they close up that container," described Kippes.

There is a two to four day turn around for testing results. This testing site will continue until Thursday, June 4th. The center will be at the Wake County Commons Building, 4011 Carya Drive in Raleigh, off of Poole Road just east of the Beltline.

Future locations will be listed online.

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