[ad_1]
Cary, North Carolina – Police were called to a coronavirus testing site in Cary on Saturday morning after demand exceeded availability. About 70 cars lined up on Medcon Court at Kildare Farm Road, and only two staff members were in evidence.
A nearby EMS station was blocked by the line of cars awaiting drive-through tests.
As Wake Toxicology Laboratory at 907 Kildaire Farm Road announced drive-through and walk-in tests available until 4 p.m. Saturday, those in attendance told WRAL News they expected to run out of tests. by noon.
Some people got out of their vehicles to direct traffic. Others were yelling at the testers, said WRAL’s Kat Campbell, who was in line.
Wake County test sites are booking quickly as the Thanksgiving holiday approaches.
County officials told WRAL News that demand for WRAL News skyrocketed 71% this week as people sought to follow expert recommendations to get tested before celebrating with people outside their families immediate.
If you need to get tested, book an appointment online to avoid waiting times. If you don’t live in Wake County, the North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services has a list of free testing sites across the state.
NCDHHS recommends calling test sites ahead of time to inquire about the capacity before you go.
Saturday morning, all appointments through Tuesday were reserved for test drives at the Sunnybrook parking lot in east Raleigh.
Wake County officials say the Sunnybrook site performed 7,153 tests in October and 4,979 already in November. In the last two days alone, it has gone from an average of 350 tests per day to 500.
At the Radeus Labs site in Wake Forest, the increase over the past two days has been even greater, from an average of 1,000 tests per day to 2,000. To date, Radeus has performed 18,638 tests in November, exceeding by far 12,715 in October.
Saturday morning, Radeus still had a few test appointments on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Both Wake County sites will be closed on Thanksgiving Day. .
Almost 4,500 tests were carried out in Wake County this month. The county said the average wait time for test results in Sunnybrook was 24 to 48 hours, although most get results within 24 hours.
In Wake Forest, most people get their results within 12-24 hours. LabCorp reports that it processes tests around the clock, performing around 200,000 tests per day across the country.
People who should be tested include those who:
- You have COVID-like symptoms, including fever, cough, shortness of breath, nausea or vomiting, and loss of smell
- Have been in close contact with a known positive case of COVID-19
- Healthcare workers or first responders
- Work in high-risk settings such as long-term care facilities, correctional facilities, or homeless shelters
- Are 65 years of age or older
- Have underlying health problems
- Be part of a vulnerable or historically marginalized population
- Have attended a mass rally or demonstration
- You are a frontline worker in an environment where social distancing is difficult
[ad_2]
Source link