Drive-thru event to distribute COVID tests

Special to The Star
·2 min read
Woman using rapid antigen test kit for self test COVID-19 epidemic at home.
Woman using rapid antigen test kit for self test COVID-19 epidemic at home.

The Cleveland County Health Department will host a free drive-thru COVID-19 test distribution event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday, Feb. 10. The event will take place at the Cleveland County Health Department at 200 S. Post Road, Shelby. Each vehicle will receive 10 free at-home COVID tests.

“We are currently seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations across the country and in our county,” Cleveland County Deputy Health Director Deshay Oliver said. “Some of this is likely due to the presence of the new Omicron subvariant named XBB.1.5. The CDC projected recently that about 40% of confirmed U.S. COVID cases are caused by the XBB.1.5 strain, up from 20% the week prior. Staying home when you are sick and testing for COVID-19 is an easy and effective way to help prevent the spread of the virus.”

The Cleveland County Health Department is encouraging community members to take advantage of this at-home test distribution event to stock up on tests now, so they are available. Individuals who test positive for COVID-19 are encouraged to quarantine at home away from others for five days following the date of symptom onset, or if asymptomatic, for five days following the date of the test.

NCDHHS has launched a time-limited program in partnership with StarMed Healthcare to provide free access to telemedicine screenings for COVID-19 treatment for North Carolinians who test positive. This program is available now until funding runs out, which is expected to be around mid-March.

People who test positive for COVID-19 with an at-home test or other method can set up an appointment online at starmed.care/nc or call 704-941-6000, seven days a week from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. There is no cost to the patient.

For more information about COVID-19 testing and vaccination services available at the Cleveland County Health Department, call the COVID-19 helpline at 980-484-6019.

This article originally appeared on The Shelby Star: Drive-thru event to distribute COVID tests in Cleveland County