With a rise in COVID-19 cases across North Carolina, the Wayne County Health Department will be offering rapid COVID-19 testing, by appointment only, starting Tuesday, August 10, 2021. Testing will be done outside of the building, and residents who are being tested should not go inside.
CDC guidelines recommend COVID-19 testing for:
- People who have symptoms of COVID-19
- Most people who have had close contact (within 6 feet for a total of 15 minutes or more over a 24-hour period) with someone with confirmed COVID-19.
- Fully vaccinated people should be tested 3-5 days following a known exposure to someone with suspected or confirmed COVID-19 and wear a mask in public indoor settings for 14 days or until they receive a negative test result.
- People who have tested positive for COVID-19 within the past 3 months and recovered do not need to get tested following an exposure as long as they do not develop new symptoms.
- Unvaccinated people who have taken part in activities that put them at higher risk for COVID-19 because they cannot physically distance as needed to avoid exposure, such as travel, attending large social or mass gatherings, or being in crowded or poorly-ventilated indoor settings.
CDC recommends that anyone with any signs or symptoms of COVID-19 get tested, regardless of vaccination status or prior infection.
An appointment for testing is required and can be made at www.waynegov.com/testing. After signing up for an appointment, the confirmation email will contain instructions for testing. After testing, residents will receive rapid test results in 15 minutes.