In January of 2022, COVID-19 cases in North Carolina reached a record high.
Recently, those numbers have been dropping nicely. However, there are still a lot of people who want to – or who are required to – test frequently for the disease. A lot of people eagerly went to a federal COVID-19 website last month and filled out their request for four free at-home tests from the federal government – but those tests still haven’t arrived in many cases.
While it’s not clear when those test kits will arrive, it is clear that the State of North Carolina is working to help fill in the gap by offering more testing sites, free at-home tests and other testing options.
According to information state health officials sent out on Wednesday, Feb. 2, North Carolina laboratories reported that there were 2,627,371 tests performed across the state last month. That included 11 days with more than 100,000 tests being performed – with a one-day high of 135,031. That peak was reached on Wednesday, Jan. 12.
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services’ COVID-19 response team has, since Thursday, Dec. 23, shipped 441,038 rapid antigen test kits to various agencies and groups across North Carolina.
One reason you may not be seeing the tests from the state is that state sources are offering the tests based on certain priorities, and it may be that you don’t fall into one of those groups.
For the state, testing kit delivery was prioritized for some, including:
- 62,780 tests went to K-12 schools for use in the StrongSchoolsNC Testing Program,
- 98,150 tests went to local health departments.
- 174,854 tests were given to long-term care and assisted living facilities and other “high priority” settings such as “migrant farmworker camps, tribal health clinics and free and charitable clinics.”
Medical companies as well as state, local and federal government agencies say now that they are making test availability a key point of emphasis. While not long ago test kits were nearly impossible not find, more and more are being seen on pharmacy shelves these days.
So what if cases are increasing. In talking with my boss yesterday, he have 4 tests performed over the past 10 days. This is probably happening with other individuals as well. While transmission may be up, deaths and hospitalizations are significantly down. Mutations have limited severity toward being similar to the common cold, which is also a coronavirus. Pandemic is over, we are in an endemic.
Has anyone received the test kits from the federal government??? Here’s another really great federal government program that just fantastic!!! Oh but I have not received my test nor even been given a ship date. PS and m not holding my breath.
Testing is nothing but a way to keep fear levels up so the pandemic can continue on forever. There are no validated tests for COVID. None can differentiate between the flu and COVID. Even a recent cold can trigger a false positive. These tests are a complete waste of money that prey on hypochondriacs and anyone who still trusts the government.
They can stick them up their arse.
Ours came on 2-1-22.
Why test when you don’t feel sick