WILMINGTON, NC—UNCW announced last month it was offering free Covid-19 tests through Nov. 24 at its drive-thru and walk-up testing site, located in the parking lot at Hurst and Hamilton drives, across from the Greene Track and Field Complex. It will extend free testing through Dec. 16.
RELATED: Free COVID-19 tests offered at UNCW through Nov. 24 [Free read]
The site is open Tuesday through Friday, noon to 4 p.m. but will close Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 26, and the Friday after, Nov. 27, and will reopen on Tuesday, Dec. 1.
Funded by a federal grant, the program is being offered in collaboration with the New Hanover County Health Department. The tests are self-administered, with staff handing off swabs to patients and instructing them on what to do (parents and guardians will give children’s tests). Results are returned to patients in two to three days.
To date, according to the chief communications officer of New Hanover County, Jessica Loeper, the public health department has administered 2,792 tests at the UNCW site.
“On average, they have seen 232 individuals each day since the site opened on Oct. 27,” Loeper added.
Moving forward, the testing site will be limited to 250 tests per day, which will continue through the last day of testing on Dec. 16.
“Since registration is required to receive a test, pre-registering and attending on the date registered for is extremely helpful,” Loeper added.
At the governor’s press conference Tuesday, North Carolina Department of Human and Health Services secretary, Dr. Mandy Cohen, encouraged everyone traveling ahead of the holiday for small, family gatherings — restricted to no more than 10 people, per the governor’s Executive Order 176 — to get a test in time to receive results and ensure North Carolinians aren’t spreading the virus.
Dr. Cohen also encouraged everyone follow the three Ws more closely than ever: Wear a mask, wash your hands, wait 6 feet apart.
Folks can check in with the new statewide Covid-19 County Alert System, tracking which North Carolina areas are hit hardest by Covid-19. New Hanover County scores as a low-impact area on the County Alert System.
RELATED: Cooper launches new county alert system, tracking Covid-19 hotspot
New Hanover has had 6,486 cases to date and 49 deaths. Its highest case count so far in a single day was monitored on Aug. 31 at 100 cases; on Nov. 18 the county tracked 85 new cases in a single day.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is reporting the state’s highest one-day number today at 4,296 new cases reported.
Other Free Covid-19 Testing Sites
- Thursday, Nov. 19, 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — MedNorth Health Center, 925 N 4th St.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Wake Toxicology Lab – Wilmington, 4536 Technology Dr.
- Saturday, Nov. 21, 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Creekwood Homes, 714 Emory St.
- Monday, Nov. 23, 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — MedNorth Health Center, 925 N 4th St.
- Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. — MedNorth Health Center, 925 N 4th Street
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Wake Toxicology Lab – Wilmington, 4536 Technology Dr.
- Saturday, Nov. 28, 2 p.m. – 6 p.m. — So What Now Inc., 815 Rankin St.
- Monday, Nov. 30, 4 p.m. – 6 p.m. — Global River Church, 4702 S. College Rd.
- Saturday, Dec. 5, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. — Rankin Terrace, 415 N. 12th St.
- Saturday, Dec. 12, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. — DREAMS, 910 Fanning St.
- Monday, Dec. 14, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. — DREAMS, 910 Fanning St.
- Saturday, Dece. 19, 10 a.m. -12 p.m. —Price Cathedral A.M.E. Zion Church. 1201 Orange St.
