The White House is offering another round of free COVID tests. How to get them in Charlotte
As COVID-19 cases in Mecklenburg County continue to increase, households wanting to secure testing can now order a third round of free kits from the federal government.
The rollout is part of an effort by the Biden administration to increase access to testing amid a surge in cases and hospitalizations across the country caused by the omicron variant.
The first round of tests were made available in December followed by a second round in March.
Those interested can visit COVIDTests.gov to order up to eight free tests, according to a White House news release.
To place an order, you just need to enter your name and address on the website. You can also provide an email address to receive updates on the order.
Those with difficulty accessing the internet or who need additional assistance should call 1-800-232-0233. The line is open from 8 a.m.-midnight daily.
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The Disability Information Access Line, available to help people with challenges place their orders, can be reached at 1-888-677-1199. The line is open from 9 a.m.-8 p.m. Monday through Friday.
If you have issues with your delivery, you should complete a form on the United State Postal Service website to notify them.
If you experience difficulty on the website, try clearing the web browser cache or switching to a different browser.
To date, the White House has delivered around 350 million free tests to households across the country, with most orders arriving two days after being shipped.
Where Mecklenburg County COVID cases currently stand
Last week, Mecklenburg County moved up to code yellow or medium level exposure last Friday, officials said.
Levels can be low, medium, or high, and are determined by the Centers for Disease Control community levels map that examines available hospital bed capacity, COVID hospital admissions and new cases in an area to determine the severity of transmission.
Mecklenburg had been in the low community burden of illness tier since the CDC launched the community levels map in March.
From May 7 to June 4, there were 11,706 cases reported in Mecklenburg County, an 88% increase from the previous four-week period, according to data from the N.C. Department of Health and Human Services.
“To stay safe, all individuals should consider masking, avoid large gatherings and make sure that you are up to date on COVID vaccines, including booster doses for those who are eligible,” Mecklenburg County Public Health Director Raynard Washington said in a statement. “If you do have symptoms, please get tested or take a rapid test, and consult with your health care provider about available treatment options.”
Observer staff writer Jonathan Limehouse contributed to this report.
This story was originally published June 10, 2022 at 4:23 PM.
