New Hanover County issued the following announcement on Jan. 20.
Households can now receive four at-home COVID-19 tests for free through the Postal Service by simply filling out an online form.
Tests can be requested by visiting www.CovidTests.gov and submitting your name and address to the system. Each address is limited one order which will contain four tests and the rapid at-home tests are expected to be shipped within 7-12 days of ordering, according to White House officials.
“One of the biggest issues we are seeing, not just here in New Hanover County but across the country, is the ability to get tested for COVID-19 in a timely manner,” said Assistant Health Director Carla Turner. “Demand for testing is far outweighing supply and the medical community’s ability to test, so we hope this resource for at-home tests will help meet some of the testing needs of our residents locally. Health and Human Services is also working quickly to distribute any testing supplies we receive to our schools, homeless shelters, and community medical providers to ensure tests are available as equitably as possible across our county.”
In addition to at-home tests, residents in New Hanover County can visit NCDHHS.gov/GetTested to search for testing sites in the area. Most sites do require a prior appointment to be tested and information on how to sign up for a time slot is available online through each provider.
“Testing is a key component in our efforts to help limit the spread of COVID-19,” said Pandemic Operations Manager Jon Campbell. “We also encourage everyone to wear a mask when you are indoors and around others, make sure you are up to date on your vaccines with a COVID booster, wash your hands often, and stay home if you are sick. By practicing these proactive measures, it will help keep you and our community as safe and healthy as possible.”
COVID-19 Community Data, as of January 20:
- New Hanover County’s percent positivity over the past 14 days is 35.2 percent (this represents positive Molecular (PCR) tests as a percent of total PCR tests performed countywide).
- Over the past 14 days, 6,413 new cases of COVID-19 have been reported in the county which is an average of 458.1 cases per day.
- According to NHRMC, as of January 17, the average daily number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized over the previous week was 89.
- Approximately 144,520 residents (about 62 percent) have been vaccinated with two doses or one dose of J&J, and 71,917 residents (about 30.7 percent) have been vaccinated with one booster or an additional dose.
Original source can be found here.
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